Compare towns
Avon vs Putnam vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Avon has the most expensive homes ($510k median).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Putnam | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
9,292Highest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 4% below U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Avon and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Avon and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,625±$33kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Avon and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,600±$62kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| Avon and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,558±$265Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421 5% above U.S. |
| Avon and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,627Highest 112% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Putnam School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
9.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.