Compare towns
Leicester vs Dudley vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leicester has the most homeowners (88.5%).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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.
| Measure | Leicester | Dudley | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,113Lowest |
11,929 |
16,970Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.5 6% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Auburn and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Auburn and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Auburn and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,173±$9k about the MA average |
$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
$116,711±$10kHighest 12% above MA |
| Auburn and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$23kHighest 27% below MA |
$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA |
$400,000±$16k 29% below MA |
| Leicester and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$258Highest 16% below MA |
$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,467±$155 17% below MA |
| Leicester and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,452 26% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$5,289Highest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±14.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±10.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Auburn and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
27 minHighest 6% below MA |
26 minLowest 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Auburn and Leicester 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 | #222 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #106 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Leicester | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Auburn |
| High school in town | Leicester High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Auburn Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
14.3Highest |
12.1 |
| 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.