Compare towns
Auburn vs Berlin vs Ogunquit vs Lunenburg
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 affordable homes ($400k median).
Berlin has the highest household income ($121k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Lunenburg has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
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 | Berlin | Ogunquit | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,970Highest |
3,378 |
1,379Lowest |
11,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±1.6 15% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Berlin 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. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11kLowest 40% above U.S. |
| Berlin 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±$16kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$155Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
— | $1,974±$586 40% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Lunenburg 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. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,401 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | — | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Auburn | Berlin-Boylston | — | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | Auburn Senior High | None in town | — | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | — | 12.4Highest |
| 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.