Compare towns
Auburn vs Athol vs Millbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has the most homeowners (79.6%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Millbury has the most expensive homes ($450k median).
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 | Auburn | Athol | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,970Highest |
12,011Lowest |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
| Auburn and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Auburn and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Auburn and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,711±$10k 12% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$118,790±$13kHighest 14% above MA |
| Millbury and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$16k 29% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$450,100±$19kHighest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$155 17% below MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,623±$232Highest 8% below MA |
| Millbury and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,289 12% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,406Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 12% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14.1%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Millbury and Auburn 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 | #106 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Auburn | Athol-Royalston | Millbury |
| High school in town | Auburn Senior High | Athol High | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.6 |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.