Compare towns
Poland vs Danforth vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Poland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.9%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Auburn has the most renters (40.9% rent).
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 | Poland | Danforth | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,954 |
666Lowest |
24,602Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.2±9.4 about the ME average |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
41.4±2.7Lowest 8% below ME |
| Danforth and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±2.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Auburn and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,557±$23kHighest 14% above ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$66,647±$5k 11% below ME |
| Poland and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,600±$44kHighest 4% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$282,000±$12k 5% below ME |
| Poland and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$128Highest 5% above ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,041±$74 9% below ME |
| Poland and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,774 9% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$3,687Highest 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.6%±30.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±7.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Poland and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
59.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
28 minHighest 15% above ME |
22 minLowest 12% below ME |
| Work from home | 21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.5%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Poland 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 | #81 of 133 in ME | — | #110 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | — | Auburn Public Schools |
| High school in town | Poland Regional H S | — | Edward Little High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.