Compare towns
Raynham Center vs Upton vs Ayer vs Avon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Raynham Center has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Avon has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Raynham Center | Upton | Ayer | Avon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,841 |
8,189 |
8,645Highest |
4,774Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±3.7 about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA |
| Upton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.9%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Raynham Center and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
30.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Avon and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,382±$14k 27% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$130,625±$33k 26% above MA |
| Upton and Raynham Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $547,700±$56k about the MA average |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$509,600±$62k 9% below MA |
| Upton and Raynham Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,776±$39Highest about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,558±$265 12% below MA |
| Raynham Center and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 11% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,627 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±32.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.3%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham Center and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
4.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Ayer 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #212 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ayer Shirley School District | Avon |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Avon Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
11.5Highest |
9.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.