Compare towns
Augusta vs Cavendish vs Whitingham 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 affordable homes ($201k median).
Cavendish has the highest household income ($89k).
Whitingham has the most homeowners (85.2%).
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.
| Measure | Augusta | Cavendish | Whitingham | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077 |
1,242Lowest |
1,368 |
24,602Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Whitingham and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Auburn and Whitingham 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% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Cavendish 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. |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
$66,647±$5k 17% below U.S. |
| Cavendish and Whitingham 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. |
$285,100±$40kHighest 14% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30k 21% below U.S. |
$282,000±$12k 15% below U.S. |
| Cavendish and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 35% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$1,041±$74Highest 26% below U.S. |
| Auburn and Cavendish 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. |
$3,948 27% above U.S. |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
$3,687 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cavendish 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Auburn Public Schools |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | Edward Little High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | 7.8Lowest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.