Compare towns
Poland vs Sutton vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Poland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.9%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k 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 | Sutton | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,954Lowest |
9,452 |
24,602Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±9.4 14% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Auburn and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$23k 6% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$66,647±$5kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,600±$44k 15% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$282,000±$12kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$128Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,041±$74Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Poland and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,774Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,687 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.6%±30.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Poland 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #110 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | Sutton | Auburn Public Schools |
| High school in town | Poland Regional H S | Sutton High School | Edward Little High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
12.6 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.