Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Auburn vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lunenburg has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Auburn has the most expensive homes ($600k median).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
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 | Lunenburg | Auburn | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
6,119Lowest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,828±$11kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822 34% above U.S. |
$1,481±$421Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,401 105% above U.S. |
$8,092Highest 159% above U.S. |
$5,156Lowest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn and Shirley 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 | #87 of 282 in MA | #44 of 120 in NH | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Auburn School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.