Compare towns
Augusta vs Bangor vs Proctor 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 people working from home (15.1%).
Bangor has the most renters (52.8% rent).
Proctor has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Brewer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
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 | Proctor | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077 |
31,938Highest |
1,794Lowest |
9,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Highest 9% above U.S. |
41±1.3 5% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Augusta and Proctor 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% |
21.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Proctor and Brewer 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% |
22.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Lowest 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% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest 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. |
$74,167±$12kHighest 8% below U.S. |
$66,613±$9k 17% below U.S. |
| Proctor and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$219,600±$10k 34% below U.S. |
$209,900±$17k 37% below U.S. |
$245,300±$21kHighest 26% below U.S. |
| Brewer and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,055±$43 25% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
$1,086±$54Highest 23% below U.S. |
| Brewer and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$3,076 about the U.S. average |
$4,032Highest 29% above U.S. |
$3,374 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Bangor 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% |
16.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older 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. |
22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
17 min 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Cony | Bangor High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
13.3 |
8.7Lowest |
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.