Compare towns
Auburn vs Putney vs Poland
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 the most renters (40.9% rent).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Poland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.9%).
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 | Putney | Poland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,602Highest |
2,622Lowest |
5,954 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.2±9.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Poland and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Auburn and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,647±$5kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$85,557±$23kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Poland and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,000±$12kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$283,600±$44k 15% below U.S. |
| Putney and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$74 26% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,198±$128Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Poland 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. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,774Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.6%±30.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Poland and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Poland and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #81 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Auburn Public Schools | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | Edward Little High School | None in town | Poland Regional H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.