Compare towns
Augusta vs Northbridge 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).
Northbridge has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Northbridge | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077 |
16,458Lowest |
24,602Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Auburn and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Northbridge 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. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$66,647±$5k 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$282,000±$12k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,041±$74 26% below U.S. |
| Northbridge 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. |
$4,821Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,687 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Auburn and Northbridge 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% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #110 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Northbridge | Auburn Public Schools |
| High school in town | Cony | Northbridge High | Edward Little High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
10.8Lowest |
13.1 |
| 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.