Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Ayer vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Auburn has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Ayer | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902 |
8,645Lowest |
16,970Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Auburn and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Auburn 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% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Auburn and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,828±$11k 9% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$116,711±$10kHighest 12% above MA |
| Auburn and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24kHighest 17% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$400,000±$16kLowest 29% below MA |
| Lunenburg and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,467±$155 17% below MA |
| Lunenburg and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,401Highest 7% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,289 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±10.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Auburn and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
26 minLowest 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Lunenburg 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #106 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Ayer Shirley School District | Auburn |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Auburn Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
11.5Lowest |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.