Compare towns
Avon vs Springfield vs Worcester vs Holbrook
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 highest household income ($131k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Holbrook has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
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 | Springfield | Worcester | Holbrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
154,749 |
207,055Highest |
11,380 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4 6% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
42.8±3.2Highest 7% above MA |
| Holbrook and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Avon 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Holbrook 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% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $130,625±$33kHighest 26% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$115,210±$14k 11% above MA |
| Avon and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,600±$62kHighest 9% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$465,400±$21k 17% below MA |
| Avon and Holbrook 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 |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA |
| Avon and Worcester 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 |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$6,105 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±18.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Worcester 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1957Highest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
12.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Holbrook and Worcester 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #234 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Springfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Holbrook |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | Springfield Central High | South High Community | Holbrook Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
12.2 |
14.6Highest |
14.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.