Compare towns
Augusta vs Berwick vs Rochester
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Berwick has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Berwick | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077 |
1,998Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Berwick 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% |
22.5%±12.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Augusta 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% |
16.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Augusta and Rochester 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% |
35.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rochester 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 41% below U.S. |
$81,406±$39kHighest about the U.S. average |
$80,836±$3k about the U.S. average |
| Berwick and Rochester 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. |
$323,300±$36kHighest about the U.S. average |
$279,100±$10k 16% below U.S. |
| Berwick and Rochester 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. |
$1,041±$901 26% below U.S. |
$1,369±$72Highest 3% below U.S. |
| Rochester and Berwick 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. |
$3,806 22% above U.S. |
$5,334Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.9%±45.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Rochester 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% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Augusta and Berwick 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | — | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Cony | — | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | 13.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.