Compare towns
Appleton vs Auburn vs Augusta vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Auburn has the most expensive homes ($282k median).
Augusta has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Appleton | Auburn | Augusta | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
24,602Highest |
19,077 |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.4% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.4±2.7Lowest 8% below ME |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±2.3 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±2 ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
27.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Auburn and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$66,647±$5k 11% below ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$282,000±$12kHighest 5% below ME |
$201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$1,041±$74 9% below ME |
$919±$79 19% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Appleton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$3,687Highest 21% above ME |
$2,465 19% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±7.4 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.1% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
22 min 12% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.5%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Augusta 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 | — | #110 of 133 in ME | #119 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Auburn Public Schools | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | Edward Little High School | Cony | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Lowest |
17.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.