Compare towns
Augusta vs Barnet vs Sharon
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 renters (46.2% rent).
Barnet has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Barnet | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
1,855 |
1,577Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
47.7±5.3Highest 23% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnet and Sharon 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% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$67,386±$15k 17% below U.S. |
$84,375±$17kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Barnet 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. |
$247,900±$24k 25% below U.S. |
$346,700±$37kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$974±$72 31% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$4,489 44% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Augusta and Barnet 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 | — | — |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9 |
— | — |
| 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.