What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).

Avon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Northbridge	Avon
People
Population	16,458Highest	4,774Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA	37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA
	Northbridge and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.6%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Avon and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.6%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Avon and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	30.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Avon and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA	$130,625±$33kHighest 26% above MA
	Avon and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA	$509,600±$62kHighest 9% below MA
	Avon and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA	$1,558±$265Highest 12% below MA
	Avon and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA	$6,627Highest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	53.3%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Avon and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest MA: 10%	4.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 7% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Northbridge and Avon 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	#226 of 282 in MA	#212 of 282 in MA
School district	Northbridge	Avon
High school in town	Northbridge High	Avon Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Highest	9.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.