Compare towns
Millbury vs Reading vs Worcester vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Auburn has the oldest population (median age 44.8).
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 | Reading | Worcester | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,961Lowest |
25,612 |
207,055Highest |
16,970 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Auburn and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Auburn and Reading 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$116,711±$10k 12% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,100±$19k 20% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$400,000±$16k 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,623±$232 8% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,467±$155Lowest 17% below MA |
| Reading and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,406 10% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$5,289 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
26 min 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #202 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #106 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millbury | Reading | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Auburn |
| High school in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Reading Memorial High | South High Community | Auburn Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.1 |
14.6Highest |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.