What stands out worked out from the figures below

East Longmeadow has the shortest commute (23 min average).

Auburn has the highest household income ($117k).

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	East Longmeadow	Auburn
People
Population	16,425Lowest	16,970Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±4.2Lowest 9% above MA	44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA
	Auburn and East Longmeadow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.3%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%	21%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	East Longmeadow and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%	20.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	East Longmeadow and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	45.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.6%±2Highest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	East Longmeadow and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,676±$11kLowest about the MA average	$116,711±$10kHighest 12% above MA
	Auburn and East Longmeadow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$376,800±$17kLowest 33% below MA	$400,000±$16kHighest 29% below MA
	Auburn and East Longmeadow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,337±$236Lowest 24% below MA	$1,467±$155Highest 17% below MA
	Auburn and East Longmeadow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,662Highest 11% above MA	$5,289Lowest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±10.2 MA: 51.8%	51.4%±10.5 MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%	5.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 22% below MA	26 minHighest 12% below MA
Work from home	15.5%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6%	14.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	East Longmeadow 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	#148 of 282 in MA	#106 of 282 in MA
School district	East Longmeadow	Auburn
High school in town	East Longmeadow High	Auburn Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Lowest	12.1Highest
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.