Compare towns
Augusta vs Wells 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 people working from home (15.1%).
Wells has the most homeowners (93.4%).
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 | Wells | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077 |
1,148Lowest |
24,602Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Auburn and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Augusta 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% |
29.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Augusta 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. |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$66,647±$5k 17% below U.S. |
| Wells and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
$282,000±$12kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Auburn and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,041±$74 26% below U.S. |
| Wells 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. |
$3,308 6% above U.S. |
$3,687Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells 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% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Augusta and Auburn 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 | — | #110 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | 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 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.