Compare towns
Augusta vs Bangor vs Cushing
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Augusta has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).
Bangor has the most renters (52.8% rent).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
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 | Bangor | Cushing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077 |
31,938Highest |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
41±1.3Lowest 8% below ME |
48.8±7.7Highest 9% above ME |
| Cushing and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Augusta and Cushing 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% |
20.5%±0.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Augusta and Cushing 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% |
38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
10.4%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$59,942±$7k 20% below ME |
$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME |
| Cushing 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 |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,055±$43 7% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$3,076 about the ME average |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
51.5%±6.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6Lowest 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% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 24% below ME |
17 minLowest 33% below ME |
23 minHighest 5% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing 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 | RSU 13 |
| High school in town | Cony | Bangor High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
13.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.