Compare towns
Amherst vs Whiting vs Aurora
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most people working from home (11%).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Aurora has the most kids (26.5% under 18).
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 | Amherst | Whiting | Aurora |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 424 |
506Highest |
132Lowest |
| Median age | 50.9±9.9Highest 14% above ME |
50±5 12% above ME |
47.2±17Lowest 5% above ME |
| Amherst and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±8.6 ME: 18.1% |
17.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
26.5%±16.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Aurora and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±6.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.3%±26.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Whiting and Aurora are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.9% ME: 36.2% |
42.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±10.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Aurora and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,656±$12kHighest about the ME average |
$55,263±$2kLowest 26% below ME |
— |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,200±$38k 29% below ME |
$214,200±$52kHighest 28% below ME |
$189,400±$17kLowest 36% below ME |
| Whiting and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $600±$333Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,125±$342Highest about the ME average |
| Aurora and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,527Lowest 50% below ME |
$1,728 43% below ME |
$2,025Highest 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Amherst and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
93.6% ME: 74.3% |
75.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 11% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
34 minHighest 36% above ME |
| Work from home | 11%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Amherst and Aurora are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Whiting Public Schools | Airline CSD |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.