Compare towns
Worcester vs Dalton vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Auburn has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Worcester | Dalton | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
6,256Lowest |
16,970 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
44.8±1.6 12% above MA |
| Dalton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Auburn and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
45.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
$116,711±$10kHighest 12% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$400,000±$16kHighest 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,467±$155 17% below MA |
| Worcester and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 21% below MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$5,289Highest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 17% below MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
26 minHighest 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Auburn and Dalton 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #106 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Central Berkshire | Auburn |
| High school in town | South High Community | Wahconah Regional High | Auburn Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
10.9Lowest |
12.1 |
| 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.