Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Dunbarton 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%).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
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 | Dunbarton | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902 |
3,097Lowest |
16,970Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
44.8±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Auburn and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 40% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$116,711±$10k 45% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton 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 39% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$400,000±$16kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton 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. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,467±$155 4% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Auburn 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. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$5,289Lowest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunbarton and Auburn 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% |
3%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. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lunenburg and Auburn 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #106 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Dunbarton 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 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.