What stands out worked out from the figures below

Auburn has the shortest commute (22 min average).

Berwick has the most homeowners (73%).

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	Berwick
People
Population	24,602Highest	1,998Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	+4.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.4±2.7Lowest 8% below ME	42.6±3.6Highest 5% below ME
	Berwick and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±2.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	22.5%±12.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Berwick and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±2Highest ME: 22.4%	16.9%±8.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Auburn and Berwick 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%	35.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%	1.1%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,647±$5kLowest 11% below ME	$81,406±$39kHighest 9% above ME
	Berwick and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$282,000±$12kLowest 5% below ME	$323,300±$36kHighest 9% above ME
	Berwick and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,041±$74 9% below ME	$1,041±$901 9% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,687Lowest 21% above ME	$3,806Highest 25% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±7.4Highest ME: 48.4%	40.9%±45.2Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Auburn and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.8%Highest ME: 10.7%	5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	73%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME	1969Highest 8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 12% below ME	34 minHighest 37% above ME
Work from home	11.5%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	13.7%±7.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Berwick 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	#101 of 133 in ME
School district	Auburn Public Schools	—
High school in town	Edward Little High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.