Compare towns
Millbury vs Lawrence vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Millbury has the most expensive homes ($450k median).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Auburn has the most homeowners (79.6%).
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 | Millbury | Lawrence | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,961Lowest |
88,736Highest |
16,970 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Auburn and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Auburn and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Lawrence and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,790±$13kHighest 14% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$116,711±$10k 12% above MA |
| Millbury and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,100±$19kHighest 20% below MA |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$400,000±$16kLowest 29% below MA |
| Millbury and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,623±$232 8% below MA |
$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
$1,467±$155Lowest 17% below MA |
| Lawrence and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,406Highest 10% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,289 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
26 min 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Millbury 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 | #202 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #106 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millbury | Lawrence | Auburn |
| High school in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Lawrence High School | Auburn Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
13.6Highest |
12.1 |
| 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.