What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).

Bangor has the highest household income ($60k).

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	Augusta	Bangor
People
Population	19,077Lowest	31,938Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME	41±1.3Lowest 8% below ME
	Augusta and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±2.6Highest ME: 18.1%	16.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Augusta and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4%	19.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Augusta and Bangor 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%	35.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	10.4%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME	$59,942±$7kHighest 20% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME	$219,600±$10kHighest 26% below ME
	Bangor and Augusta 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	$1,055±$43Highest 7% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,465Lowest 19% below ME	$3,076Highest about the ME average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±8.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	51.5%±6.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Bangor and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.2%Highest ME: 10.7%	17.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	47.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 12 yrs older than ME	1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 24% below ME	17 minLowest 33% below ME
Work from home	15.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9%	10.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Augusta and Bangor 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	#37 of 133 in ME
School district	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy	Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4
High school in town	Cony	Bangor High School
Students per teacherat that high school	17.9Highest	13.3Lowest
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.