Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Bow vs Auburn
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Auburn has the most affordable homes ($400k 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 | Bow | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902 |
8,335Lowest |
16,970Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.8±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| 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%±3 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Lunenburg 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% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Auburn 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. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$116,711±$10k 45% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$400,000±$16kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Bow and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,467±$155Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Bow 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. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$5,289Lowest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±10.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #106 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Bow School District | Auburn |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | Bow High School | Auburn Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
12.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.