Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Danvers 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%).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
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 | Danvers | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902Lowest |
28,098Highest |
16,970 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
44.8±1.6 12% above MA |
| Danvers and Auburn 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% |
17.2%±2Lowest 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%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Auburn and Lunenburg 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 9% above MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$116,711±$10k 12% above MA |
| Danvers and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24k 17% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$400,000±$16kLowest 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586 12% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,467±$155Lowest 17% below MA |
| Danvers and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,401 7% above MA |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$5,289Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±10.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Auburn and Danvers 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest 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 | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Danvers 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #106 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Auburn |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Auburn Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
12.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.