Compare towns
Auburn vs Mapleton vs Augusta vs Biddeford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most homeowners (79.9%).
Augusta has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Biddeford has the most expensive homes ($397k 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 | Mapleton | Augusta | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,602Highest |
1,884Lowest |
19,077 |
22,498 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
+6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7 8% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
| Augusta and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±2 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.9% ME: 36.2% |
32.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,647±$5k 11% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$72,333±$4k 3% below ME |
| Mapleton and Biddeford 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
$396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$74 9% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$919±$79 19% below ME |
$1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,687 21% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,465 19% below ME |
$4,401Highest 45% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±7.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6 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% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
53.8% ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 23 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 12% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.5%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Augusta and Biddeford 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 | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Auburn Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | Edward Little High School | None in town | Cony | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
— | 17.9Highest |
14.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.