Compare towns
Augusta vs Appleton vs Auburn vs Hallowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Appleton has the most homeowners (82.6%).
Auburn has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Hallowell has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Augusta | Appleton | Auburn | Hallowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077 |
1,360Lowest |
24,602Highest |
2,592 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4.4% ME: +2.6% |
+7.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.4±2.7Lowest 8% below ME |
50.3±7.9Highest 12% above ME |
| Hallowell and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±2.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest 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+ | 21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
33.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Hallowell and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
27.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hallowell and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$66,647±$5k 11% below ME |
$68,398±$10kHighest 8% below ME |
| Hallowell and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$282,000±$12k 5% below ME |
$295,300±$45kHighest about the ME average |
| Hallowell and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 19% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$1,041±$74 9% below ME |
$890±$175Lowest 22% below ME |
| Appleton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,687 21% above ME |
$3,867Highest 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±7.4 ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±17.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.1% ME: 74.3% |
58.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1954 23 yrs older than ME |
1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 24% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
22 min 12% below ME |
14 minLowest 43% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.5%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hallowell 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 | #119 of 133 in ME | — | #110 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Appleton Public Schools | Auburn Public Schools | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | Edward Little High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | 13.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.