Compare towns
Avon vs Shirley vs Sutton
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%).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Shirley | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
6,976 |
9,452Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Avon and Sutton 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% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley 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% |
36.7% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$33k 26% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% 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 |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% 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 |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Avon and Shirley 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 |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Ayer Shirley School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| 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.