Compare towns
Avon vs Townsend vs Shirley
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%).
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Townsend | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
9,100Highest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
| Shirley and Townsend 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%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest 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%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley 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% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2 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±$33kHighest 26% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
| 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±$62kHighest 9% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% 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 |
$1,481±$421 16% 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 | $6,627Highest 11% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Shirley and Townsend 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 | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | North Middlesex | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.