Compare towns
Auburn vs Augusta vs Epping vs Poland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Epping has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
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 | Auburn | Augusta | Epping | Poland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,602Highest |
19,077 |
7,430 |
5,954Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.2±9.4 14% above U.S. |
| Epping and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,647±$5k 17% below U.S. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$85,557±$23k 6% above U.S. |
| Epping and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,000±$12k 15% below U.S. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$283,600±$44k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$74 26% below U.S. |
$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,198±$128 15% below U.S. |
| Epping and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,687 18% above U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$2,774 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.6%±30.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Poland 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #81 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Auburn Public Schools | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Epping School District | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | Edward Little High School | Cony | Epping High School | Poland Regional H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
17.9Highest |
9.3Lowest |
12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.