Avon vs Randolph
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
Avon is the unusual case: it has both the stronger schools and the lower price, by about $100k on a 4BR. Unless the commute or the feel of the place decides it for you, Avon is the straightforward pick.
On tax, look past the rate: Randolph works out roughly $1,600 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Avon if you want the stronger schools of the two, or you want the lower price, or the commute matters most.
All Avon numbers →Choose Randolph if you want a train.
All Randolph numbers →Side by side
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsAvon ahead on 3 of 9, 1 against
| Avon | Randolph | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | mixed schoolsT4 | mixed schoolsT4 |
| MCAS achievement | 24th | 11th |
| Student growth | 42nd | 42nd |
| Graduation rate | 90% | 85.9% |
| SchoolDigger rank | 316th of 361 | 339th of 361 |
| State accountability | Moderate progress toward targets | Moderate progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $20,921 | $24,025 |
| Schools in the district | 1 | 5 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 15 | 38 |
What a home costsAvon ahead on 4 of 6, 1 against
| Avon | Randolph | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $550kT1 | $650kT2 |
| 3BR townhouse | $425k | $515k |
| 2BR condo | $315k | $380k |
| 3BR rent | $3,153/mo | $3,280/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $159k | $175k |
| 10-year price growth | 6% a year | 6.8% a year |
What you pay the townRandolph ahead on 2 of 4
| Avon | Randolph | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $16.50T4 | $11.58T2 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$9,100 | ≈$7,500 |
| Town spending per resident | $7,301 | $3,618 |
| Share of budget on schools | 35% | 43% |
Getting to workRandolph ahead on 2 of 3
| Avon | Randolph | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 44 minT2 | 44 minT2 |
| MBTA rail | No MBTA rail | Commuter rail · ~32 min to terminal |
| Miles from downtown | 15 mi | 12 mi |
Before kindergartenRandolph ahead on 3 of 4
| Avon | Randolph | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 8 | 58 |
| Child care places | 163 | 1,120 |
| Centers vs family programs | 3 centers | 14 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 16 | 73 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Avon | Randolph | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,777 | 34,984 |
| Energy | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Compact center | 4/10 | 8/10 |
| Family amenities | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Culture | 4/10 | 6/10 |
| Gathering places | 6/10 | 8/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2026 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
