Compare towns
Millbury vs Natick 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 youngest population (median age 42.6).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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 | Millbury | Natick | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,961Lowest |
36,873Highest |
16,970 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.1Lowest 7% above MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Auburn and Natick 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% |
21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Natick and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Auburn and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
$138,538±$11kHighest 33% above MA |
$116,711±$10kLowest 12% above MA |
| Natick and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,100±$19k 20% below MA |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
$400,000±$16kLowest 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,623±$232 8% below MA |
$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$1,467±$155Lowest 17% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,406 10% below MA |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
$5,289Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±10.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Auburn and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
26 minLowest 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #202 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA | #106 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millbury | Natick | Auburn |
| High school in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Natick High | Auburn Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.6Highest |
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.