Compare towns
Auburn vs Poland 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 the youngest population (median age 41.4).
Poland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.9%).
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 | Poland | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,602Highest |
5,954Lowest |
19,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% ME: +2.6% |
+9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7Lowest 8% below ME |
44.2±9.4Highest about the ME average |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
| Poland 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% |
21.4%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±2 ME: 22.4% |
17.8%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6Highest 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% ME: 36.2% |
23.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Auburn and Poland 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 |
$85,557±$23kHighest 14% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
| Poland 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 |
$283,600±$44kHighest 4% below ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
| Poland 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 |
$1,198±$128Highest 5% above ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
| Poland and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,687Highest 21% above ME |
$2,774 9% below ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±7.4 ME: 48.4% |
61.6%±30.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Poland and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.6% ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1% ME: 74.3% |
81.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1965 12 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 |
| Work from home | 11.5%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Poland 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 | #81 of 133 in ME | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Auburn Public Schools | RSU 16 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | Edward Little High School | Poland Regional H S | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
12.2Lowest |
17.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.