What stands out worked out from the figures below

Avon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).

Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Avon	Sturbridge
People
Population	4,774Lowest	9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
Kids under 18	21.6%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Avon and Sturbridge 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%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Avon and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$130,625±$33kLowest 26% above MA	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
	Sturbridge 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±$62kHighest 9% below MA	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,558±$265Highest 12% below MA	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
	Avon and Sturbridge 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	$6,520Lowest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.3%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Avon and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#212 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Avon	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Avon Middle High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.4Highest	7.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.