Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Brookline 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%).
Brookline has the most people working from home (24.7%).
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 | Brookline | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902 |
5,736Lowest |
16,970Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% 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% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline 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% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest 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% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline 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. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$116,711±$10k 45% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$400,000±$16kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586 40% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,467±$155Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Lunenburg 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,289Lowest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest 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% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #106 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Brookline School District | Auburn |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | None in town | Auburn Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| 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.