Compare towns
Auburn vs Lunenburg vs Ogunquit vs Belchertown
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 highest household income ($117k).
Lunenburg has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Belchertown has the most affordable homes ($371k 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 | Lunenburg | Ogunquit | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,970Highest |
11,902 |
1,379Lowest |
15,393 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±1.6 15% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9 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% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8Highest 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±$10kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$108,068±$15kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Ogunquit 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. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$371,300±$12kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$155 4% above U.S. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
— | $1,292±$230Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Auburn 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. |
$6,401Highest 105% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,810 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8Highest 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% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.1%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #106 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA | — | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Auburn | Lunenburg | — | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Auburn Senior High | Lunenburg High | — | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.4Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
| 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.