Compare towns
Oxford vs Colebrook 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
Oxford has the most people working from home (16.4%).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Auburn has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Oxford | Colebrook | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,385 |
1,494Lowest |
16,970Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±2.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
44.8±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colebrook and Auburn 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oxford and Colebrook 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 29% above U.S. |
$111,250±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$116,711±$10kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,900±$18k 13% above U.S. |
$342,800±$19kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$400,000±$16kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| 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 17% below U.S. |
$1,333±$626 6% below U.S. |
$1,467±$155Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,622Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$6,211Highest 99% above U.S. |
$5,289 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±15.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Colebrook School District | Auburn |
| High school in town | Oxford High | None in town | Auburn Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.