Auburn #41: Central MA’s Best Communities
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
#41 ranked Auburn’s industry continues to grow; the town has been working steadily to repair and maintain its roads, the state of the art high school opened in 2006, and a recently dedicated new recreation complex with five playing fields all make Auburn a great place to live and raise a family.
Dr. Robert Goddard’s launch of the first liquid fuel rocket is commemorated in several locations around town, including between the first and ninth holes of the Pakachoag Golf Course, where the actual launch occurred.
Auburn's restaurant ranking is #8, with many local favorites to choose from. The town ranks second to the bottom in safety, and comes in at #67 for economic condition.
Established: 1808
Population: 16,188
Median household income: $71,375
Median housing price: $187,500
2012 Best Communities rankings
Overall ranking: 41
Affordability ranking: 41
Education ranking: 37
Economic condition ranking: 62
Safety ranking: 71
Arts & Culture ranking: 22
Restaurant ranking: 8
History in a nutshell:
Dr. Robert Goddard, the "father of modern rocketry," fired the first of his liquid propelled rockets in 1926 in this Central Massachusetts town, originally named Ward. The town, settled in 1789, was incorporated in 1808 under the name of Ward to honor an American Revolution General. Changed to "Auburn" in 1837, the town was again revolutionized in 1926 with Goddard's rocket launch from Effe Ward's farm, paving the way for modern space science.
Famous residents:
Paul Allaire, Former Xerox Corp CEO
Jacob Whitman Bailey, Biologist, educator
Dr. Robert Goddard, scientist
Notable residents source: Wikipedia
Additional reporting by Grace Fenton
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