Compare towns
Avon vs Lancaster vs Stoughton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Avon has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Stoughton has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Lancaster | Stoughton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
8,606 |
29,225Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA |
| Stoughton and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Avon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoughton and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Avon and Stoughton 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 |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$104,794±$6kLowest about the MA average |
| Lancaster 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±$62kLowest 9% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$523,800±$28kHighest 7% below MA |
| Stoughton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,558±$265Lowest 12% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$2,050±$200 16% above MA |
| Lancaster and Stoughton 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 |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$6,215Lowest 4% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stoughton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
33 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.4%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #212 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #196 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Nashoba | Stoughton |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | None in town | Stoughton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
— | 10.8Highest |
| 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.