Compare towns
Oxford vs Reading vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
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.
| Measure | Oxford | Reading | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,385Lowest |
25,612Highest |
16,970 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±2.8Lowest 5% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Auburn and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Oxford 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% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Auburn and Reading 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$116,711±$10k 12% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$400,000±$16k 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,467±$155 17% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,622Lowest 23% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$5,289 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±10.5 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
26 minLowest 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #245 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #106 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Oxford | Reading | Auburn |
| High school in town | Oxford High | Reading Memorial High | Auburn Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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.