Compare towns
Avon vs Holbrook vs Sutton 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%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Holbrook | Sutton | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
11,380Highest |
9,452 |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.7% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA |
42.8±3.2 7% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
| Sutton and Holbrook 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% |
21.2%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Avon and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Holbrook and Sutton 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% |
34.6% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Avon and Holbrook 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 |
$115,210±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
| Sutton 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 |
$465,400±$21k 17% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Sutton and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,558±$265Highest 12% below MA |
$1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Avon and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,627 11% above MA |
$6,105 about the MA average |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±18.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Avon and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #212 of 282 in MA | #234 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Holbrook | Sutton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | Holbrook Middle High School | Sutton High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
14.3Highest |
12.6 |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.