Compare towns

Augusta vs Bangor vs Brooklin

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has the most kids (18.9% under 18).
Bangor has the most renters (52.8% rent).
Brooklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.4%).

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.

MeasureAugustaBangorBrooklin
People
Population
19,077
31,938Highest
869Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.2%
ME: +2.6%
-3.9%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+0.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
42.5±2.4
5% below ME
41±1.3Lowest
8% below ME
49.2±3.7Highest
10% above ME
Kids under 18
18.9%±2.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
16.7%±1.7
ME: 18.1%
16.3%±4.2Lowest
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%±2.6
ME: 22.4%
19.9%±1.9Lowest
ME: 22.4%
24.7%±3.2Highest
ME: 22.4%
Brooklin and Augusta 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%
ME: 36.2%
41.8%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
10.4%±1.6Highest
ME: 5.8%
7.2%±2.9
ME: 5.8%
Bangor and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$47,979±$3kLowest
36% below ME
$59,942±$7k
20% below ME
$68,750±$8kHighest
8% below ME
Brooklin and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$201,000±$18kLowest
32% below ME
$219,600±$10k
26% below ME
$339,400±$90kHighest
14% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$919±$79Lowest
19% below ME
$1,055±$43
7% below ME
$1,236±$137Highest
9% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,465
19% below ME
$3,076Highest
about the ME average
$1,792Lowest
41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.2%±8.3
ME: 48.4%
51.5%±6.5Highest
ME: 48.4%
29.5%±25Lowest
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%
ME: 10.7%
7.7%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.8%
ME: 74.3%
47.2%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
84.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965
12 yrs older than ME
1954Lowest
23 yrs older than ME
1980Highest
3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
24% below ME
17 minLowest
33% below ME
26 minHighest
4% above ME
Work from home
15.1%±3.7
ME: 15.9%
10.1%±2.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
16.5%±6.8Highest
ME: 15.9%
Brooklin 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 #37 of 133 in ME —
School district Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 Brooklin Public Schools
High school in town Cony Bangor High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
17.9Highest
13.3Lowest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.