Compare towns
Auburn vs Cushing vs Augusta
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k 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 | Cushing | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,602Highest |
1,460Lowest |
19,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7Lowest 8% below ME |
48.8±7.7Highest 9% above ME |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
| Cushing 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 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 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% |
20.5%±0.9 ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Augusta and Cushing 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% |
38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 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±$5k 11% below ME |
$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
| Cushing 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±$12k 5% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$74 9% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,687 21% above ME |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±7.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 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% ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1% ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1965 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 12% below ME |
23 minHighest 5% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.5%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing 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 | RSU 13 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | Edward Little High School | None in town | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
— | 17.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.