Compare towns
Augusta vs Pelham 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).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Pelham | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077 |
14,449Lowest |
24,602Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Highest 9% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Augusta and Pelham 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% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest 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% |
40%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% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Auburn 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. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$66,647±$5k 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$282,000±$12k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,041±$74 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$3,687 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 133 in ME | #48 of 120 in NH | #110 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Pelham School District | Auburn Public Schools |
| High school in town | Cony | Pelham High School | Edward Little High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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.