Compare towns
Auburn vs Douglas vs Oxford
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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k 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 | Douglas | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,970Highest |
9,207Lowest |
13,385 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
42±2.8Lowest 5% above MA |
| Auburn and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Oxford and Douglas 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% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Auburn and Oxford 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% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford and Douglas 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 |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$103,862±$10kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$16k 29% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$155 17% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA |
| Douglas 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 |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$4,622Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Oxford 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% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 12% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Oxford 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Auburn | Douglas | Oxford |
| High school in town | Auburn Senior High | Douglas High School | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
7.2Lowest |
10.3 |
| 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.