Compare towns
Auburn vs Belchertown vs Ogunquit vs Kingston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has the most kids (21% under 18).
Belchertown has the most affordable homes ($371k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Kingston has the highest household income ($120k).
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 | Belchertown | Ogunquit | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,970Highest |
15,393 |
1,379Lowest |
14,027 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±1.6 15% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
46.5±3.9 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Auburn and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belchertown and Auburn 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 45% above U.S. |
$108,068±$15kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$119,876±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Kingston 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 20% above U.S. |
$371,300±$12kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$610,600±$30k 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$155Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,292±$230 9% below U.S. |
— | $1,159±$244Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Auburn and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,289 70% above U.S. |
$5,810 86% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,650Highest 145% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
35.9%±13 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Belchertown and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.1%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.5%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #106 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA | — | #99 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Auburn | Belchertown | — | Kingston · Silver Lake |
| High school in town | Auburn Senior High | Belchertown High | — | Silver Lake Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.9Lowest |
— | 12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.