What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).

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	Townsend	Auburn
People
Population	9,100Lowest	16,970Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average	44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA
	Auburn and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±3.2 MA: 19.4%	21%±2.3 MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Auburn and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	45.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Townsend and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA	$116,711±$10kLowest 12% above MA
	Townsend and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA	$400,000±$16kLowest 29% below MA
	Townsend and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA	$1,467±$155Lowest 17% below MA
	Townsend and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Highest about the MA average	$5,289Lowest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.4%±10.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Auburn and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest MA: 10%	5.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Highest MA: 62.5%	79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	26 minLowest 12% below MA
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	14.1%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Auburn and Townsend 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	#106 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Auburn
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	Auburn Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	12.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.