Compare towns
Worcester vs Fairhaven 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%).
Fairhaven has the most expensive homes ($447k median).
Auburn has the most people working from home (14.1%).
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 | Fairhaven | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
15,903Lowest |
16,970 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
44.8±1.6 12% above MA |
| Fairhaven and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Auburn and Worcester 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% |
24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Fairhaven 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% MA: 47.3% |
32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$95,965±$19k 8% below MA |
$116,711±$10kHighest 12% above MA |
| Auburn and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA |
$400,000±$16k 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% 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 |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$5,289Highest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14Lowest 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% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
26 min 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Auburn and Worcester 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 | #126 of 282 in MA | #106 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Fairhaven | Auburn |
| High school in town | South High Community | Fairhaven High | Auburn Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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.