Compare towns
Augusta vs Mapleton vs Lisbon 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Lisbon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Auburn has the most expensive homes ($282k median).
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 | Mapleton | Lisbon | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077 |
1,884Lowest |
9,750 |
24,602Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
41.4±2.7 8% below ME |
| Augusta and Mapleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±2.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Auburn and Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$77,819±$9k 4% above ME |
$66,647±$5k 11% below ME |
| Mapleton and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$258,300±$26k 13% below ME |
$282,000±$12kHighest 5% below ME |
| Auburn and Lisbon 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$979±$286 14% below ME |
$1,041±$74Highest 9% below ME |
| Auburn and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465 19% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,324 9% above ME |
$3,687Highest 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
43.4%±14.2 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.8% ME: 74.3% |
59.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1973 4 yrs older than ME |
1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 minHighest 17% above ME |
22 min 12% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.1%±9.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.5%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Lisbon 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 | — | #60 of 133 in ME | #110 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Lisbon Public Schools | Auburn Public Schools |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | Lisbon High School | Edward Little High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | 15.8 |
13.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.