What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).

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	Townsend	Avon
People
Population	9,100Highest	4,774Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Highest about the MA average	37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA
	Townsend and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.6%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Avon and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.6%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Avon and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	30.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Avon and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA	$130,625±$33kHighest 26% above MA
	Avon and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA	$509,600±$62kHighest 9% below MA
	Avon and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA	$1,558±$265Highest 12% below MA
	Avon and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Lowest about the MA average	$6,627Highest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	53.3%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Avon and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest MA: 10%	4.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Highest MA: 62.5%	75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%	10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA	#212 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Avon
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	Avon Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	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.