Compare towns
Holbrook vs Methuen vs Avon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holbrook has the most homeowners (84%).
Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Avon has the highest household income ($131k).
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 | Holbrook | Methuen | Avon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,380 |
53,475Highest |
4,774Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.2Highest 7% above MA |
39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA |
| Holbrook and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Avon and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Holbrook and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31% MA: 47.3% |
30.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Avon and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,210±$14k 11% above MA |
$113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA |
$130,625±$33kHighest 26% above MA |
| Avon and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,400±$21kLowest 17% below MA |
$499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$509,600±$62kHighest 9% below MA |
| Avon and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average |
$1,558±$265 12% below MA |
| Methuen and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,105 about the MA average |
$5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,627Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±18.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
53.3%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Avon and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Methuen and Holbrook 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 | #234 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA | #212 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holbrook | Methuen | Avon |
| High school in town | Holbrook Middle High School | Methuen High | Avon Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
13.1 |
9.4Lowest |
| 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.