Compare towns
Augusta vs Barre vs Berlin vs Waterville
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 kids (18.9% under 18).
Barre has the oldest housing (typical home built 1947).
Berlin has the most homeowners (87.9%).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
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 | Barre | Berlin | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
8,412 |
2,880Lowest |
17,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6 8% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
35.5±2.5Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Augusta and Berlin 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% |
19.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$65,625±$7k 19% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$53,580±$4k 34% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 40% below U.S. |
$210,400±$15k 37% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$184,600±$21kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,093±$58 23% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
$978±$72 31% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Barre 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. |
$5,192Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$2,755 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.5%±8.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterville and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 20% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterville 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT | #105 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Waterville Public Schools |
| High school in town | Cony | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | Waterville Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— | 12.8 |
| 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.