What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sanford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+125.2%).

Auburn has the shortest commute (22 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sanford	Auburn
People
Population	22,247Lowest	24,602Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+125.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	+4.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.1±2.8Highest 6% below ME	41.4±2.7Lowest 8% below ME
	Sanford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	21.4%±2.3Highest ME: 18.1%
	Auburn and Sanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.8%±2.3Highest ME: 22.4%	19.8%±2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Sanford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	27.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±0.8Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,524±$7kHighest about the ME average	$66,647±$5kLowest 11% below ME
	Sanford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$280,200±$10kLowest 6% below ME	$282,000±$12kHighest 5% below ME
	Auburn and Sanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,152±$72Highest about the ME average	$1,041±$74Lowest 9% below ME
	Sanford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,708Highest 22% above ME	$3,687Lowest 21% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±7.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	53.4%±7.4Highest ME: 48.4%
	Auburn and Sanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%	13.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	59.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 2 yrs older than ME	1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 14% above ME	22 minLowest 12% below ME
Work from home	9.8%±2Lowest ME: 15.9%	11.5%±2.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Auburn and Sanford 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	#100 of 133 in ME	#110 of 133 in ME
School district	Sanford Public Schools	Auburn Public Schools
High school in town	Sanford High School	Edward Little High School
Students per teacherat that high school	17.7Highest	13.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.