Compare towns
Avon vs Williston vs Townsend vs Blackstone
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
Blackstone has the most affordable homes ($404k 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 | Williston | Townsend | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
10,144Highest |
9,100 |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4Lowest 4% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
| Williston and Blackstone 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% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Blackstone 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Blackstone 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Avon and Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$94,191±$21kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| 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 53% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$404,400±$34kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Avon and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,558±$265 10% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,189±$85Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Williston and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,627Highest 112% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$5,703 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Blackstone 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #136 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | North Middlesex | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
— | 13.1 |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.