Compare towns
Avon vs Hanson vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Avon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Avon | Hanson | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
10,660Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA |
42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
| Hanson and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Avon and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,625±$33k 26% above MA |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
| Hanson and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,600±$62k 9% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Hanson and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,558±$265 12% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
| Hanson and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,627Highest 11% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Townsend and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #212 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Whitman-Hanson | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
14.7Highest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.