Compare towns

Augusta vs Standish 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).
Standish has the highest household income ($105k).
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.

MeasureAugustaStandishAuburn
People
Population
19,077
10,662Lowest
24,602Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+3.7%
ME: +2.6%
+4.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
42.5±2.4Highest
5% below ME
40.5±2.8Lowest
10% 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%±2.6
ME: 18.1%
16.4%±3.1Lowest
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%
15.2%±2.3Lowest
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%
36%Highest
ME: 36.2%
27.8%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
11.6%±1.7Highest
ME: 5.8%
5.6%±1.1
ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$47,979±$3kLowest
36% below ME
$104,593±$15kHighest
40% above ME
$66,647±$5k
11% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$201,000±$18kLowest
32% below ME
$336,000±$18kHighest
13% above ME
$282,000±$12k
5% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$919±$79Lowest
19% below ME
$983±$453
14% below ME
$1,041±$74Highest
9% below ME
Auburn and Standish 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
$3,005
about the ME average
$3,687Highest
21% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.2%±8.3Lowest
ME: 48.4%
57.4%±22.3Highest
ME: 48.4%
53.4%±7.4
ME: 48.4%
Standish 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
ME: 10.7%
7.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
13.8%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
91.2%Highest
ME: 74.3%
59.1%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965
12 yrs older than ME
1980Highest
3 yrs newer than ME
1954Lowest
23 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
24% below ME
29 minHighest
20% above ME
22 min
12% below ME
Work from home
15.1%±3.7Highest
ME: 15.9%
13.6%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
11.5%±2.7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Augusta and Standish 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 #18 of 133 in ME #110 of 133 in ME
School district Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy RSU 06/MSAD 06 Auburn Public Schools
High school in town Cony Bonny Eagle High School Edward Little High School
Students per teacherat that high school
17.9Highest
12.5Lowest
13.1
On TownTapestry
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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.