Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Smithfield 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%).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Smithfield | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902Lowest |
22,233Highest |
16,970 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% 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%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest 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% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$116,711±$10kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,900±$24kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$400,000±$16kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Smithfield 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. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% 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 | $6,401Highest 105% above U.S. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$5,289 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Lowest 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #106 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lunenburg | Smithfield | Auburn |
| High school in town | Lunenburg High | Smithfield High School | Auburn Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
11.8Lowest |
12.1 |
| 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.