What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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.

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

Measure	Avon	Townsend
People
Population	4,774Lowest	9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA	40.9±3.3Highest about the MA average
	Townsend and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4%	21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Avon and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.6%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Avon and Townsend 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%	35.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Avon and Townsend 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 26% above MA	$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA
	Avon and Townsend 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	$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA
	Avon and Townsend 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	$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA
	Avon and Townsend 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	$6,031Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.3%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Avon and Townsend 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%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Avon	North Middlesex
High school in town	Avon Middle High School	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	9.4Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.