Compare towns
Auburn vs Rowley vs Lunenburg
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).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k median).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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 | Rowley | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,970Highest |
6,251Lowest |
11,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±1.6 12% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
43.2±2.1Lowest 8% above MA |
| Rowley and Auburn 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% |
19.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3Highest 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%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley and Auburn 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% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Auburn and Rowley 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 |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
$112,828±$11kLowest 9% above MA |
| Rowley 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 |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$463,900±$24k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$155Lowest 17% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
| Lunenburg and Rowley 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 |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$6,401 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley 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 MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 12% below MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.1%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lunenburg and Auburn 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Auburn | Triton | 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 |
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.