Compare towns

Augusta vs Berlin vs Auburn

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Berlin has the most homeowners (87.9%).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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.

MeasureAugustaBerlinAuburn
People
Population
19,077
2,880Lowest
24,602Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.5±2.4
9% above U.S.
50.6±2.4Highest
30% above U.S.
41.4±2.7Lowest
6% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.9%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±2.3Highest
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+
21.5%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
26.8%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Berlin and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
27.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Auburn and Berlin 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
41% below U.S.
$86,691±$21kHighest
7% above U.S.
$66,647±$5k
17% below U.S.
Berlin 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
40% below U.S.
$273,600±$31k
18% below U.S.
$282,000±$12kHighest
15% below U.S.
Auburn and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$919±$79Lowest
35% below U.S.
$1,169±$171Highest
17% below U.S.
$1,041±$74
26% below U.S.
Berlin and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,465Lowest
21% below U.S.
$4,418Highest
42% above U.S.
$3,687
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.2%±8.3
U.S.: 51.1%
41%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.4%±7.4Highest
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
18.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
21 min
20% below U.S.
22 minHighest
18% below U.S.
Work from home
15.1%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.7%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Augusta and Berlin 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 #16 of 70 in VT #110 of 133 in ME
School district Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Auburn Public Schools
High school in town Cony None in town Edward Little High School
Students per teacherat that high school
17.9Highest
—
13.1Lowest
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.