Compare towns

Newfields vs Townsend vs Auburn

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).

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.

MeasureNewfieldsTownsendAuburn
People
Population
2,023Lowest
9,100Highest
6,119
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+20%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
44.3±5.9Highest
14% above U.S.
Auburn and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.9%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.3%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
Townsend and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13.6%±0.9
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.2%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$121,528±$23kLowest
51% above U.S.
$153,253±$6k
90% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$433,200±$22kLowest
30% above U.S.
$600,300±$29k
80% above U.S.
Newfields and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,875±$323
33% above U.S.
$1,469±$313Lowest
4% above U.S.
$1,893±$822Highest
34% above U.S.
Auburn and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,031Lowest
93% above U.S.
$8,092
159% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.6%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Townsend and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
Work from home
25.5%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.5%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Auburn and Newfields 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 — #136 of 282 in MA #44 of 120 in NH
School district Newfields School District North Middlesex Auburn School District
High school in town None in town North Middlesex Regional None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.1
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.