Compare towns
Worcester vs Strafford vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Strafford | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
1,372Lowest |
16,970 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.8±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$116,711±$10kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$400,000±$16k 20% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,467±$155 4% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,289 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Auburn 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 | — | #106 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Strafford School District | Auburn |
| High school in town | South High Community | None in town | Auburn Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.