Compare towns
Avon vs Worcester vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Avon has the most expensive homes ($510k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Townsend has the oldest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Worcester | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,774Lowest |
207,055Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±4 6% below MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% 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% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 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% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.6%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,625±$33kHighest 26% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$121,528±$23k 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 |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 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 |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
| Avon and Worcester 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 |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Avon | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Avon Middle High School | South High Community | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
14.6Highest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.