What stands out worked out from the figures below

Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

Augusta has the most people working from home (15.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Auburn	Augusta
People
Population	24,602Highest	19,077Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.4±2.7Lowest 8% below ME	42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME
	Augusta and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±2.3Highest ME: 18.1%	18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Auburn and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±2Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Augusta and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	28.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Auburn and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,647±$5kHighest 11% below ME	$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$282,000±$12kHighest 5% below ME	$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,041±$74Highest 9% below ME	$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME
	Auburn and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,687Highest 21% above ME	$2,465Lowest 19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±7.4Highest ME: 48.4%	49.2%±8.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Auburn and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	18.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME	1965Highest 12 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 12% below ME	19 minLowest 24% below ME
Work from home	11.5%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.1%±3.7Highest 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	Auburn Public Schools	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy
High school in town	Edward Little High School	Cony
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Lowest	17.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.