What stands out worked out from the figures below

Oxford has the most people working from home (16.4%).

Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Oxford	Auburn
People
Population	13,385Lowest	16,970Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42±2.8Lowest 5% above MA	44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA
	Auburn and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%	21%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Oxford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Auburn and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	45.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Oxford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,862±$10kLowest about the MA average	$116,711±$10kHighest 12% above MA
	Auburn and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA	$400,000±$16kHighest 29% below MA
	Auburn and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA	$1,467±$155Highest 17% below MA
	Auburn and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,622Lowest 23% below MA	$5,289Highest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8%	51.4%±10.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Oxford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest MA: 10%	5.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest about the MA average	26 minLowest 12% below MA
Work from home	16.4%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	14.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Oxford 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	#245 of 282 in MA	#106 of 282 in MA
School district	Oxford	Auburn
High school in town	Oxford High	Auburn Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.