Compare towns
Augusta vs Bangor vs Epping vs Brewer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Bangor has the most renters (52.8% rent).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Brewer has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Epping | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077 |
31,938Highest |
7,430Lowest |
9,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
41±1.3 5% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bangor and Brewer 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 41% below U.S. |
$59,942±$7k 26% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9k 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$219,600±$10k 34% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,055±$43 25% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$3,076 about the U.S. average |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,374 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
17 min 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 | Epping School District | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Cony | Bangor High School | Epping High School | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
13.3 |
9.3Lowest |
14.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.