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.
Practice your golf swing with a stunning view at Taber's on the Lake in Auburn.
Intown New Auburn has easy access to everything the city has to offer.
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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.
The 5th hole at Fox Ridge Golf Club in Auburn is a scenic spot for a nice drive.
The Mount Apatite Trails in Auburn are meticulously maintained.
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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.
The distinctive gambrel-style homes of Uptown New Auburn add to the neighborhood's charm.
Intown New Auburn offers a diverse range New England home styles.
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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."
Wallingford's Fruit House in Auburn boasts a large corn maze for some fun family activities.
Lost Valley in Auburn is a fantastic spot in the winter to go skiing.
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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.
Gritty McDuff's Brew Pub has a large mug club and serves up tasty food in Downtown Auburn.
The local Target near Downtown Auburn has many home staples to choose from.
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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.
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.
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.
On average, homes in Auburn, ME sell after 38 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Auburn, ME over the last 12 months is $385,000, up 29% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$400,000
Median Sale Price
$385,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$395,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$235,750
Median Change From 1st List Price
4%
Last 12 months Home Sales
44
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
29%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$224
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
6,053
Number of Homes for Sale
4
Median Year Built
1950
Months of Supply
1.10
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,655
Below the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,481
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,185
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,501
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
15,681
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Top Schools in Auburn, ME
Source:
Best Public Elementary Schools
#1 Durham Community School
A
Niche
7
GreatSchools
#2 Fairview School
B
Niche
8
GreatSchools
#3 Minot Consolidated School
B
Niche
6
GreatSchools
#4 East Auburn Community School
B+
Niche
5
GreatSchools
#5 Poland Community School
B-
Niche
3
GreatSchools
#6 Park Avenue Elementary School
C
Niche
3
GreatSchools
#7 Walton School
C
Niche
3
GreatSchools
#8 Washburn School
C
Niche
3
GreatSchools
#9 Raymond A. Geiger Elementary School
C-
Niche
2
GreatSchools
Best Public Middle Schools
#1 Durham Community School
A
Niche
7
GreatSchools
#2 Bruce M. Whittier Middle School
B
Niche
5
GreatSchools
#3 Tripp Middle School
B-
Niche
4
GreatSchools
#4 Auburn Middle School
C
Niche
3
GreatSchools
#5 Lewiston Middle School
C-
Niche
1
GreatSchools
Best Public High Schools
#1 Freeport High School
B+
Niche
7
GreatSchools
#2 Leavitt Area High School
B
Niche
6
GreatSchools
#3 Gray-New Gloucester High School
C+
Niche
5
GreatSchools
#4 Edward Little High School
C+
Niche
4
GreatSchools
#5 Poland Regional High School
C+
Niche
3
GreatSchools
#6 Lewiston High School
C+
Niche
2
GreatSchools
Best Private Schools
#1 Saint Dominic Academy
A-
Niche
#2 Androscoggin Learning & Transition Center
#3 Margaret Murphy Centers for Children
#4 MARGARET MURPHY CENTER FOR CHILDEN - MT. AUBURN
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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.
