Compare towns
Millbury vs Sheffield 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).
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 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 | Millbury | Sheffield | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,961 |
3,330Lowest |
16,970Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.1Lowest 7% above MA |
48.2±8Highest 21% above MA |
44.8±1.6 12% above MA |
| Sheffield and Auburn 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% |
13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Auburn and Millbury 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% |
23.2%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Sheffield and Auburn 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% |
37.5% MA: 47.3% |
45.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Auburn and Millbury 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 |
$92,120±$31kLowest 11% 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 |
$409,400±$32k 27% below MA |
$400,000±$16kLowest 29% below MA |
| Millbury and Sheffield 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 |
$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
$1,467±$155Lowest 17% below MA |
| Sheffield 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 |
$4,520Lowest 25% below MA |
$5,289 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest 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% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
26 min 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest 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 | #250 of 282 in MA | #106 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millbury | Southern Berkshire | Auburn |
| High school in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Mt Everett Regional | Auburn Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
7.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| 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.