What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).

Beals has the most homeowners (83.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Augusta	Beals
People
Population	19,077Highest	498Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME	48±15.6Highest 7% above ME
	Beals and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±2.6Highest ME: 18.1%	16.1%±6.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Augusta and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.5%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	37.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.8%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8%
	Beals and Augusta 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 36% below ME	$64,063±$14kHighest 14% below ME
	Beals and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME	$256,700±$45kHighest 13% below ME
	Beals and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$919±$79Highest 19% below ME	$907±$378Lowest 20% below ME
	Augusta and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,465Lowest 19% below ME	$2,580Highest 15% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4%	7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Augusta and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.2%Highest ME: 10.7%	10.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	83.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME	1974Highest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 24% below ME	21 minHighest 17% below ME
Work from home	15.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.6%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Beals 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	—
School district	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy	Beals Public Schools
High school in town	Cony	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	17.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.