Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Everett vs Auburn vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Auburn has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Everett | Auburn | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,902 |
50,045Highest |
16,970 |
11,663Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 8% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett 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 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Auburn and Pepperell 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% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,828±$11k 9% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$116,711±$10k 12% above MA |
$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA |
| Pepperell 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 |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$400,000±$16kLowest 29% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,974±$586 12% above MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,467±$155 17% below MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Everett 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 |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$5,289 12% below MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett 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% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
26 minLowest 12% below MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #106 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Everett | Auburn | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | Everett High | Auburn Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.