Compare towns
Lewiston vs Augusta vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lewiston has the youngest population (median age 37.3).
Augusta has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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.
| Measure | Lewiston | Augusta | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 38,324Highest |
19,077Lowest |
24,602 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.3±1.2Lowest 17% below ME |
42.5±2.4Highest 5% 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 | 20.6%±1.5 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±2.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Auburn and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6Highest 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+ | 22.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,393±$4k 26% below ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$66,647±$5kHighest 11% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,100±$8k 21% below ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$282,000±$12kHighest 5% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $986±$44 13% below ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% 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 | $2,899 5% below ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$3,687Highest 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±5.9 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Lowest 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 | 20%Highest ME: 10.7% |
18.2% ME: 10.7% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
53.8% ME: 74.3% |
59.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 20 yrs older than ME |
1965Highest 12 yrs older than ME |
1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 15% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
22 minHighest 12% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±2.4 ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.5%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Augusta and Lewiston 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 | #132 of 133 in ME | #119 of 133 in ME | #110 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Auburn Public Schools |
| High school in town | Lewiston High School | Cony | Edward Little High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
17.9Highest |
13.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.