Compare towns
Auburn vs Townsend vs Millbury
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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Millbury has the most renters (24.6% rent).
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 | Townsend | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,970Highest |
9,100Lowest |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
| Auburn and Millbury 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% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Auburn and Millbury 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% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
| Townsend and Millbury 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±$22k 23% below MA |
$450,100±$19kHighest 20% below MA |
| Millbury and Townsend 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±$313 17% below MA |
$1,623±$232Highest 8% below MA |
| Millbury and Townsend 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 |
$5,406 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±10.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 12% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14.1%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Millbury 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Auburn | North Middlesex | Millbury |
| High school in town | Auburn Senior High | North Middlesex Regional | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
13.1Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.