Compare towns
Durham vs Lewiston vs Mapleton vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Lewiston has the most renters (48.8% rent).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Auburn has the oldest housing (typical home built 1954).
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 | Durham | Lewiston | Mapleton | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,262 |
38,324Highest |
1,884Lowest |
24,602 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.4% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Highest 5% below ME |
37.3±1.2Lowest 17% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.4±2.7 8% below ME |
| Durham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.6%±1.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±2.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Auburn and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
27.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
10.1%±1Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$55,393±$4kLowest 26% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$66,647±$5k 11% below ME |
| Durham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$235,100±$8k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$282,000±$12k 5% below ME |
| Durham and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $986±$44 13% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,041±$74Highest 9% below ME |
| Auburn and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$2,899 5% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,687 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
51.7%±5.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±7.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Auburn and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
51.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
59.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1957 20 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
22 min 12% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±2.4 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.5%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 133 in ME | #132 of 133 in ME | — | #110 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Auburn Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Lewiston High School | None in town | Edward Little High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
— | 13.1Lowest |
| 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.