Compare towns

Lunenburg vs Devens 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%).
Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
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.

MeasureLunenburgDevensAuburn
People
Population
11,902
1,723Lowest
16,970Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-7.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4.3%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±2.1Lowest
8% above MA
48.6±4.3Highest
22% above MA
44.8±1.6
12% above MA
Devens 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%
5.5%±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%±5Lowest
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%
21.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
45.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.2%±4.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
5%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
Devens 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
9% above MA
$189,250±$63kHighest
82% above MA
$116,711±$10k
12% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$463,900±$24k
17% below MA
$556,800±$96kHighest
about the MA average
$400,000±$16kLowest
29% below MA
Devens 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
12% above MA
$1,500±$539
15% below MA
$1,467±$155Lowest
17% below MA
Lunenburg and Devens 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
$5,556
7% below MA
$5,289Lowest
12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.8%±13.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
85.4%±64.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
51.4%±10.5
MA: 51.8%
Devens and Auburn 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%
25.3%Highest
MA: 10%
5.2%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
79.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
79.6%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Highest
8 yrs newer than MA
1950Lowest
14 yrs older than MA
1963
1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
24% above MA
28 min
4% below MA
26 minLowest
12% below MA
Work from home
15.8%±3.5
MA: 18.6%
28.5%±11.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
14.1%±2.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Devens 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 — #106 of 282 in MA
School district Lunenburg — Auburn
High school in town Lunenburg High — Auburn Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.4Highest
—
12.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.