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About Auburn, ME

About Auburn, ME

Nature, shopping and classic homes in Androscoggin County

On the western banks of the Androscoggin River, Auburn is a small, outdoorsy city of about 25,000 people. Just opposite is its twin city of Lewiston, which is home to about 38,000 people. Both cities started out as manufacturing centers, operating mills along the river throughout the 1900s. Lewiston was more industrial, while Auburn's primary export was white canvas shoes; at one point, its shoe factory was the fifth-largest shoe manufacturer in the United States. Away from the industry along the river, the peaceful countryside in the western section of Auburn attracted wealthier factory owners. Today, the city's waterways, mountains and dense pine forests are still the big appeal of the area, as they offer spots for pretty much every popular Maine activity, including golfing, skiing, fishing, hiking, swimming, boating and snowmobiling, to name a few.

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Practice your golf swing with a stunning view at Taber's on the Lake in Auburn.
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Intown New Auburn has easy access to everything the city has to offer.
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Ranches, New Englanders and waterfront colonials in Auburn

Classic New England-style homes fill Auburn, though locations vary from small lots on gridded streets to spacious rural landscapes and waterfront settings. Near downtown, there are organized subdivisions of Capes, Colonial Revivals and shotgun homes, which locals call “New Englanders.” On the quiet, forested streets in the western part of Auburn, homebuyers find Colonial Revivals and ranch-style houses on bigger lots, along with the occasional waterfront property on Taylor Pond. The median housing listing price in Auburn is about $360,000, which is lower than the national median of $406,000.

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The distinctive gambrel-style homes of Uptown New Auburn add to the neighborhood's charm.
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Intown New Auburn offers a diverse range New England home styles.
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Leisure activities on land and sea in Auburn

Auburn primary identity is as a hub for outdoor recreation. Green spaces range from public parks with athletic courts like Pettengill Park to multi-use trails like Mount Apatite, an abandoned quarry where people still find pieces of quartz. After it snows, cross-country skiers and snowmobilers hit the trails. Skiers also head to the Lost Valley Ski Area, a small resort with 21 trails and two chairlifts, along with a snow tubing park. “It’s more of a family ski area, but we’ve had a couple of Olympians get their start at Lost Valley. You begin there and then move on to your Sugarloafs and Sunday Rivers,” says Brian DuBois, an Auburn native and Realtor with Keller Williams Realty. Sugarloaf and Sunday River are large ski resorts with over 100 trails located 80 and 45 miles from Auburn, respectively.

Lake Auburn provides the city’s public drinking water, so people aren’t allowed to make contact with it. Nature trails encourage lakeside hikes, and certain types of fishing, canoeing and kayaking are allowed in designated areas as long as precautions are taken. Taylor Pond allows for more recreation, including swimming and sailing, and there’s even a boating club where members race their sailboats. Golfers play 18 holes at either the public Fox Ridge Golf Club or the semi-private Martindale Country Club. In the summer, the community congregates at Tabers, a mini-golf course and driving range with a restaurant overlooking Lake Auburn. “You go to hit some golf balls and have an ice cream. It’s one of those places where if you don’t go there at least a couple of times a summer, your summer means nothing,” DuBois says. Locals have until mid-September to visit the restaurant, though golfing goes through October.

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The 5th hole at Fox Ridge Golf Club in Auburn is a scenic spot for a nice drive.
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The Mount Apatite Trails in Auburn are meticulously maintained.
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A new high school in Auburn

The Auburn Public School district, which scores an overall C rating from Niche, serves about 3,200 students in the area. The district has six elementary schools, one middle school and one high school, which opened a $126-million campus in 2023. High school students may also take career courses in cosmetology, business, culinary arts, firefighting, and more. Auburn is also home to Central Maine Community College, which offers associate degrees and certificate programs for over 40 fields of study.

Summer concerts, boat parades and autumnal festivities

Auburn's events tend to be outdoor-oriented. At the Lost Valley Ski Area, locals grab folding camp chairs and head to the Lone Pine Summer Concert Series, where they can enjoy free live music as they sip beer from the brewpub and order dinner from food trucks. In September, there’s a half marathon and 5K around Lake Auburn and the surrounding meadows; all proceeds support the health and fitness nonprofit organization Moving ME Forward. Come autumn, Wallingford's Fruit House draws large crowds for its apple orchards, petting zoo and corn maze. Downtown, residents attend community-run performances at the Community Little Theatre. Just across the Androscoggin River, in Lewiston, is the area's most anticipated event. Every August, a collection of colorful hot air balloons launch from Simard-Payne Park, floating up over the "Twin Cities."

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Wallingford's Fruit House in Auburn boasts a large corn maze for some fun family activities.
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Lost Valley in Auburn is a fantastic spot in the winter to go skiing.
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Citylink buses and state routes keep Auburn residents connected

Buses operated by Citylink, Lewiston-Auburn’s public transportation service, run along roads closer to downtown. Stops don’t reach the secluded residential roads, so most people drive around Lewiston-Auburn on a day-to-day basis. Lewiston’s two hospitals, Central Maine Medical Center and St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, are about 6 miles southeast. Auburn is almost equidistant to the state capital of Augusta and its most populous city, Portland. DuBois says the Maine Turnpike makes commuting doable, as drivers take Interstate 95 to travel 40 miles south to Portland or 37 miles northeast to Augusta. Pilots often use the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport for training in Auburn, but travelers go to the Portland International Jetport for commercial flights.

Commerical corridors and downtown eateries

Many of the city's shopping options are located off Center Street. Here, shoppers hit the Auburn Mall for stores like JCPenney and Bath & Body Works or head to big box stores like Target and Walmart Supercenter. The same area has regional chain restaurants like Margaritas Mexican Restaurant and Ninety-Nine Restaurant & Pub, as well as locally owned favorites like Wei-Li, an American Chinese spot. Shaw's and Hannaford are the go-to supermarkets. Downtown Auburn has a few established eateries like Roy's All Steak Hamburgers.

Nightlife in Auburn tends to revolve around breweries; Gritty McDuff's Brew Pub and Craft Brew Underground are both popular for pints of craft beer.

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Gritty McDuff's Brew Pub has a large mug club and serves up tasty food in Downtown Auburn.
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The local Target near Downtown Auburn has many home staples to choose from.
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Lower-than-average crime rates and snowy winters

According to FBI statistics, violent and property crime rates in Auburn tend to be lower than the national average. Auburn experiences all four seasons, but summers are temperate, and winters are long and cold. Snowfall and ice storms are common, but the city clears the roads quickly.

Amanda Boivin
Written By
Amanda Boivin
Noel Poage
Photography Contributed By
Noel Poage
Ruo Zheng
Video By
Ruo Zheng

Neighborhood Map

Auburn Demographics and Home Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$332,000
Median Sale Price
$325,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$336,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$385,500
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$252,500
Median Change From 1st List Price
-1%
Last 12 months Home Sales
227
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
$8
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$211

Neighborhood Facts

Number of Homes for Sale
28
Months of Supply
1.50

Average Home Value



Source: Public Records

Top Schools in Auburn, ME

Source:

Best Public Elementary Schools

Durham Community School
#1 Durham Community School
A
Niche
7
GreatSchools
Fairview School
#2 Fairview School
B
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Minot Consolidated School
#3 Minot Consolidated School
B
Niche
6
GreatSchools
East Auburn Community School
#4 East Auburn Community School
B+
Niche
5
GreatSchools
Poland Community School
#5 Poland Community School
B-
Niche
3
GreatSchools
Park Avenue Elementary School
#6 Park Avenue Elementary School
C
Niche
3
GreatSchools
Walton School
#7 Walton School
C
Niche
3
GreatSchools
Washburn School
#8 Washburn School
C
Niche
3
GreatSchools
Raymond A. Geiger Elementary School
#9 Raymond A. Geiger Elementary School
C-
Niche
2
GreatSchools

Best Public Middle Schools

Durham Community School
#1 Durham Community School
A
Niche
7
GreatSchools
Bruce M. Whittier Middle School
#2 Bruce M. Whittier Middle School
B
Niche
5
GreatSchools
Tripp Middle School
#3 Tripp Middle School
B-
Niche
4
GreatSchools
Auburn Middle School
#4 Auburn Middle School
C
Niche
3
GreatSchools
Lewiston Middle School
#5 Lewiston Middle School
C-
Niche
1
GreatSchools

Best Public High Schools

Freeport High School
#1 Freeport High School
B+
Niche
7
GreatSchools
Leavitt Area High School
#2 Leavitt Area High School
B
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Gray-New Gloucester High School
#3 Gray-New Gloucester High School
C+
Niche
5
GreatSchools
Edward Little High School
#4 Edward Little High School
C+
Niche
4
GreatSchools
Poland Regional High School
#5 Poland Regional High School
C+
Niche
3
GreatSchools
Lewiston High School
#6 Lewiston High School
C+
Niche
2
GreatSchools

Best Private Schools

Saint Dominic Academy
#1 Saint Dominic Academy
A-
Niche
Androscoggin Learning & Transition Center
#2 Androscoggin Learning & Transition Center
Margaret Murphy Centers for Children
#3 Margaret Murphy Centers for Children
MARGARET MURPHY CENTER FOR CHILDEN - MT. AUBURN
#4 MARGARET MURPHY CENTER FOR CHILDEN - MT. AUBURN
Margaret Murphy Center for Children-Charles
#5 Margaret Murphy Center for Children-Charles
Mmcfc - Falcon
#6 Mmcfc - Falcon
Spurwink School - Auburn
#7 Spurwink School - Auburn
St Dominic Academy
#8 St Dominic Academy
St Dominic Academy-Auburn
#9 St Dominic Academy-Auburn

Agents Specializing in this Area

Agent Spotlight

Kristin Rofe
(207) 515-8417
With over 25 years in customer service and sales, Kristin brings a wealth of experience and a dedication to excellence to her role as a real estate professional.

Throughout her career, Kristin has been passionately committed to delivering unparalleled service to her clients, cultivating lasting relationships built on trust and integrity. Her background in customer service has equipped her with exceptional communication skills and an innate ability to truly understand her clients’ needs and preferences.

Transitioning seamlessly into the world of real estate, Kristin is excited to leverage her extensive experience and market knowledge to help her clients navigate the complexities of buying, selling, or investing in property. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer searching for your dream home or a seasoned investor looking to maximize your returns, Kristin is dedicated to providing personalized guidance and support every step of the way.

Known for her unwavering dedication, professionalism, and tireless work ethic, Kristin is committed to exceeding her clients’ expectations and achieving their real estate goals with confidence and ease. Backed by the renowned reputation and cutting-edge resources of The Maine Real Estate Group, she offers a seamless and stress-free real estate experience from start to finish.

When she’s not busy helping her clients achieve their real estate dreams, Kristin enjoys spending time with her three boys & husband of 13 years, exploring the vibrant communities of Southern Maine, Upstate New York, and central New Hampshire, and staying active in her local community.

Ready to embark on your real estate journey? Contact Kristin today to experience the difference of working with a trusted advisor who is committed to your success!
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Top Neighborhoods in this City

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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.