Compare towns
Millbury vs Ware 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
Millbury has the most expensive homes ($450k median).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Ware | Worcester | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,961 |
6,369Lowest |
207,055Highest |
16,970 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% 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%±3 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
45.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,790±$13kHighest 14% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% 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 |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$400,000±$16k 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,623±$232Highest 8% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,467±$155 17% below MA |
| Millbury and Worcester 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 |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$5,289 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4% MA: 62.5% |
57.4% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
27 min 9% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
26 min 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Millbury 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #106 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millbury | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Auburn |
| High school in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | — | South High Community | Auburn Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 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.