What stands out worked out from the figures below

Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).

Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Auburn	Townsend
People
Population	16,970Highest	9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average
	Auburn and Townsend 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%±3.2 MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	20.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Auburn and Townsend 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%	35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Townsend 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±$10kLowest 12% above MA	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA
	Townsend 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	$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA
	Townsend and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,467±$155Lowest 17% below MA	$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA
	Townsend 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	$6,031Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±10.5Highest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Auburn and Townsend 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%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 12% below MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	14.1%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Auburn and Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Auburn	North Middlesex
High school in town	Auburn Senior High	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.