Compare towns
Avon vs Woonsocket vs Townsend 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Woonsocket | Townsend | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
43,521Highest |
9,100 |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4 4% below U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket 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% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest 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. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% 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±$62kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| 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 10% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% 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 | $6,627Highest 112% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #136 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | North Middlesex | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | Woonsocket High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
15.2Highest |
13.1 |
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| 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.