Compare towns
Augusta vs Hampden vs Auburn
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).
Hampden has the highest household income ($112k).
Auburn has the oldest housing (typical home built 1954).
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 | Hampden | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077 |
7,896Lowest |
24,602Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
41.4±2.7 8% 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 | 18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±2.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±2 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+ | 28.9% ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
5.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Auburn and Hampden 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 |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
$66,647±$5k 11% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$301,300±$38kHighest about the ME average |
$282,000±$12k 5% below ME |
| Hampden and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME |
$1,041±$74 9% below ME |
| Hampden 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 |
$3,694Highest 22% above ME |
$3,687 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±7.4Highest 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 | 18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
23 minHighest 7% below ME |
22 min 12% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.5%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden 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 | #6 of 133 in ME | #110 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 22 | Auburn Public Schools |
| High school in town | Cony | Hampden Academy | Edward Little High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
14.8 |
13.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.