Compare towns
Holbrook vs Ripton vs Avon vs Charlton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Avon has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Avon | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,380 |
508Lowest |
4,774 |
13,435Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
37.5±4Lowest 4% below U.S. |
43±4 11% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlton and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.6%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,210±$14k 43% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$130,625±$33kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$117,587±$8k 46% above U.S. |
| Avon and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,400±$21k 40% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$509,600±$62kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$427,500±$19k 28% above U.S. |
| Avon and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S. |
— | $1,558±$265Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,381±$415 about the U.S. average |
| Avon and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,105 96% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$6,627Highest 112% above U.S. |
$4,617Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.3%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Avon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Charlton 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 | — | #212 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holbrook | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Avon | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Holbrook Middle High School | None in town | Avon Middle High School | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 9.4Lowest |
9.7 |
| 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.