Compare towns
Augusta vs Bangor vs Hooksett
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 people working from home (15.1%).
Bangor has the most renters (52.8% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077 |
31,938Highest |
15,057Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Highest 9% above U.S. |
41±1.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Augusta and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Augusta and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest 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% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bangor and Hooksett 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. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$219,600±$10k 34% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,055±$43 25% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$3,076 about the U.S. average |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
17.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Augusta and Hooksett 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 | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 | Hooksett School District |
| 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 |
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.