Compare towns

Auburn vs Rye vs Augusta

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 kids (21.4% under 18).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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.

MeasureAuburnRyeAugusta
People
Population
24,602Highest
5,611Lowest
19,077
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.4±2.7Lowest
6% above U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
42.5±2.4
9% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.4%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.5%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
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
17% below U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
$47,979±$3kLowest
41% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$282,000±$12k
15% below U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$201,000±$18kLowest
40% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,041±$74
26% below U.S.
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
$919±$79Lowest
35% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,687
18% above U.S.
$7,519Highest
141% above U.S.
$2,465Lowest
21% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.4%±7.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.2%±8.3
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
53.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
1972Highest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
18% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
Work from home
11.5%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #110 of 133 in ME #2 of 120 in NH #119 of 133 in ME
School district Auburn Public Schools Rye School District 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

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.