Compare towns
Avon vs Stowe 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 youngest population (median age 37.5).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k 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 | Stowe | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
5,285 |
6,976Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 4% below U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Avon 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% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Shirley 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest 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. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above 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±$62k 53% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Stowe 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 10% above U.S. |
$1,458±$242Lowest 3% above 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 | $6,627 112% above U.S. |
$7,161Highest 130% above U.S. |
$5,156Lowest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe 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 |
| School district | Avon | Stowe Town School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
11.3Highest |
— |
| 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.