Compare towns
Auburn vs Augusta vs Middlesex
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,602Highest |
19,077 |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Augusta 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%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Auburn and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Augusta and Middlesex 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest 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% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,000±$12k 15% below U.S. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$74 26% below U.S. |
$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Auburn 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Augusta 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school 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 |
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.