What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bangor has the shortest commute (17 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bangor	Auburn
People
Population	31,938Highest	24,602Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+4.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41±1.3Lowest 8% below ME	41.4±2.7Highest 8% below ME
	Auburn and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	21.4%±2.3Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	19.9%±1.9Highest ME: 22.4%	19.8%±2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Bangor and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	27.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.4%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%	5.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,942±$7kLowest 20% below ME	$66,647±$5kHighest 11% below ME
	Auburn and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$219,600±$10kLowest 26% below ME	$282,000±$12kHighest 5% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,055±$43Highest 7% below ME	$1,041±$74Lowest 9% below ME
	Bangor and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,076Lowest about the ME average	$3,687Highest 21% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.5%±6.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	53.4%±7.4Highest ME: 48.4%
	Auburn and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	13.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	47.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	59.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954 23 yrs older than ME	1954 23 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 33% below ME	22 minHighest 12% below ME
Work from home	10.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	11.5%±2.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Auburn and Bangor 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	#37 of 133 in ME	#110 of 133 in ME
School district	Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4	Auburn Public Schools
High school in town	Bangor High School	Edward Little High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.3Highest	13.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.