Compare towns
Holbrook vs Ripton vs Townsend vs Avon
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 most expensive homes ($510k 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 | Holbrook | Ripton | Townsend | Avon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,380Highest |
508Lowest |
9,100 |
4,774 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
37.5±4Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Holbrook 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%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Avon and Holbrook 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest 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% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.6%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,210±$14k 43% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$130,625±$33kHighest 62% 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 | $465,400±$21k 40% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$509,600±$62kHighest 53% 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. |
— | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,558±$265Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Avon and Townsend 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. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,627Highest 112% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.3%±24.4Highest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #212 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holbrook | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | North Middlesex | Avon |
| High school in town | Holbrook Middle High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | 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 | 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.