Compare towns
Bangor vs Ogunquit vs Auburn vs Augusta
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bangor has the most renters (52.8% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Auburn has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k 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 | Bangor | Ogunquit | Auburn | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 31,938Highest |
1,379Lowest |
24,602 |
19,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.4% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41±1.3Lowest 8% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
41.4±2.7 8% below ME |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±1.7 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±2.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 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+ | 19.9%±1.9 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.4%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,942±$7k 20% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$66,647±$5k 11% below ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,600±$10k 26% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$282,000±$12k 5% below ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,055±$43Highest 7% below ME |
— | $1,041±$74 9% below ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% 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 | $3,076 about the ME average |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,687 21% above ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±6.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±7.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 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% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.1% ME: 74.3% |
53.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
1965 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 33% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
22 min 12% below ME |
19 min 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.5%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #37 of 133 in ME | — | #110 of 133 in ME | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 | — | Auburn Public Schools | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | Bangor High School | — | Edward Little High School | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3 |
— | 13.1Lowest |
17.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.