Compare towns
Townsend vs Fall River vs Avon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
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.
| Measure | Townsend | Fall River | Avon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
94,082Highest |
4,774Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Highest about the MA average |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA |
| Townsend and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest 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%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9Lowest 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% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest 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±$23k 17% above MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below 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±$22k 23% below MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% 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±$313 17% below MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% 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 | $6,031 about the MA average |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,627Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
53.3%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Avon and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±3.9 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #212 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Avon |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | B M C Durfee High | Avon Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.3 |
9.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.