What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k 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.

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

Measure	Westfield	Auburn
People
Population	40,378Highest	6,119Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average	44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S.
	Auburn and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.3%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Auburn and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	7.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Westfield and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,753±$6kLowest 9% above U.S.	$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$325,100±$11kLowest about the U.S. average	$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,117±$60Lowest 21% below U.S.	$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S.
	Auburn and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,746Lowest 52% above U.S.	$8,092Highest 159% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Westfield and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	8.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#197 of 282 in MA	#44 of 120 in NH
School district	Westfield	Auburn School District
High school in town	Westfield High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.