Compare towns
Auburn vs South Hadley vs Raynham
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 oldest population (median age 44.8).
South Hadley has the most people working from home (17.3%).
Raynham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.1%).
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 | South Hadley | Raynham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,970 |
17,754Highest |
15,505Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.6±2.6Lowest 7% above MA |
42.9±1.5 7% above MA |
| Auburn and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Auburn and Raynham 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% |
23.3%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| South Hadley 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% |
50.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
39.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,711±$10k 12% above MA |
$93,910±$15kLowest 10% below MA |
$124,012±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
| Raynham 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±$16k 29% below MA |
$357,900±$19kLowest 36% below MA |
$524,400±$29kHighest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$155 17% below MA |
$1,325±$54Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,749±$74Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,289Lowest 12% below MA |
$5,500 8% below MA |
$6,752Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
48.7%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% below MA |
24 minLowest 19% below MA |
36 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.1%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| South Hadley 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 | #216 of 282 in MA | #190 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Auburn | South Hadley | Bridgewater-Raynham |
| High school in town | Auburn Senior High | South Hadley High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
8.6Lowest |
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| 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.