Auburn vs Leicester
You are paying about $100k more for a 4BR in Auburn, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $100k for one tier of schooling.
On tax, look past the rate: Leicester works out roughly $1,900 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Auburn if you want the stronger schools of the two, or the commute matters most.
All Auburn numbers →Choose Leicester if you want the lower price.
All Leicester numbers →Side by side
The better of the two is highlighted on each row. Where a row is not highlighted, the two are close enough that calling a winner would be false precision.
| Auburn | Leicester | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | solid schoolsT3 | mixed schoolsT4 |
| MCAS percentile | 50th | 18th |
| Niche district rank | 105th of 236 | — |
| 4BR house | $575kT1 | $475kT1 |
| 2BR condo | $330k | $270k |
| Commute to Boston | 80 minT4 | 82 minT4 |
| MBTA rail | No MBTA rail | No MBTA rail |
| Tax rate | $14.50T3 | $13.50T3 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$8,300 | ≈$6,400 |
| 3BR rent | $2,447/mo | $2,257/mo |
Prices are estimates calibrated to the Zillow Home Value Index and Redfin; tax rates are FY2026 residential rates and the bill applies that rate to the town’s own median 4BR estimate; commutes take the rail leg from the MBTA timetable and still model the drive; rents are HUD FY2026 Small Area Fair Market Rents. School tiers are editorial and shown next to the state’s own MCAS figures. Data last reviewed — see the methodology. This comparison never uses demographics as an input.
