Compare towns
Augusta vs Appleton vs Waterville vs Brewer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Waterville has the youngest population (median age 35.5).
Brewer has the highest household income ($67k).
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 | Augusta | Appleton | Waterville | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
1,360Lowest |
17,077 |
9,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.7% ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
35.5±2.5Lowest 21% below ME |
40.1±4.8 10% below ME |
| Appleton and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Brewer and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
30.8% ME: 36.2% |
35%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$53,580±$4k 28% below ME |
$66,613±$9kHighest 11% below ME |
| Brewer and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$184,600±$21kLowest 38% below ME |
$245,300±$21kHighest 17% below ME |
| Brewer and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$978±$72 14% below ME |
$1,086±$54 5% below ME |
| Appleton and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,755 9% below ME |
$3,374 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.5%±8.7 ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.2% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
59.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 24% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
18 min 27% below ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
16.6%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Waterville and Augusta 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 | #119 of 133 in ME | — | #105 of 133 in ME | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Appleton Public Schools | Waterville Public Schools | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | Waterville Senior High School | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
14.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.