Compare towns
Auburn vs Lunenburg vs Sutton
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 affordable homes ($400k median).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,970Highest |
11,902 |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.2±2.1Lowest 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Auburn and Sutton 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% |
21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lunenburg and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Auburn and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4% MA: 47.3% |
44%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Auburn and Lunenburg 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 |
$112,828±$11kLowest 9% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Sutton 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 29% below MA |
$463,900±$24k 17% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Sutton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$155 17% below MA |
$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Lunenburg and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,289Lowest 12% below MA |
$6,401 7% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±10.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Auburn and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 12% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Lunenburg 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 | #87 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Auburn | Lunenburg | Sutton |
| High school in town | Auburn Senior High | Lunenburg High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.4 |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.