Compare towns
Auburn vs Unity 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
Auburn has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Augusta has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Biddeford has the most expensive homes ($397k median).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Augusta | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,602Highest |
1,858Lowest |
19,077 |
22,498 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7 8% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME |
35±2.6 22% below ME |
| Augusta 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 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2 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%±2 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7 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% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.9% ME: 36.2% |
32.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,647±$5k 11% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$72,333±$4kHighest 3% below ME |
| Biddeford 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 |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$74 9% below ME |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$919±$79 19% below ME |
$1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,687 21% above ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$4,401Highest 45% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±7.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%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 |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 12% below ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
24 minHighest 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.5%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity 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 | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Auburn Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | Edward Little High School | Ecology Learning Ctr | Cony | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
12.4Lowest |
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.