Compare towns
Augusta vs Saco 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).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Auburn has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Saco | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Lowest |
20,819 |
24,602Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
41.4±2.7Lowest 8% below ME |
| Saco and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±2.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Auburn and Augusta 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% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest 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% |
43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
5.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Auburn and Saco 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 |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
$66,647±$5k 11% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$282,000±$12k 5% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$1,041±$74 9% below ME |
| Saco 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 |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,687 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±7.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Auburn and Saco 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%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 |
24 minHighest 3% below ME |
22 min 12% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.5%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Saco 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #110 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Saco Public Schools | Auburn Public Schools |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | Edward Little High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | 13.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.