What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wales has the most people working from home (22.2%).

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.

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

Measure	Wales	Auburn
People
Population	1,924Lowest	24,602Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+4.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	35.1±4.2Lowest 22% below ME	41.4±2.7Highest 8% below ME
	Auburn and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	30.2%±6Highest ME: 18.1%	21.4%±2.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	11%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	19.8%±2Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	27.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Auburn and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,004±$5kHighest 3% above ME	$66,647±$5kLowest 11% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$250,400±$28kLowest 16% below ME	$282,000±$12kHighest 5% below ME
	Auburn and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,154±$64Highest about the ME average	$1,041±$74Lowest 9% below ME
	Wales and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,578Lowest 15% below ME	$3,687Highest 21% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	83.3%±37.5Highest ME: 48.4%	53.4%±7.4Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Wales and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	25.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	13.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	59.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 12 yrs newer 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	22.2%±13.9Highest ME: 15.9%	11.5%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Wales 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	—	#110 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 04	Auburn Public Schools
High school in town	Oak Hill High School	Edward Little High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	13.1Highest
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.