Compare towns
Augusta vs Berwick vs South Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
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 | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
1,998Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
42.6±3.6Highest 5% below ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
| Berwick and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±12.5 ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.9%±8.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Augusta and Berwick 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 ME: 36.2% |
35.4% ME: 36.2% |
41.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| South Berwick 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 |
$81,406±$39k 9% above ME |
$99,572±$13kHighest 33% above ME |
| South Berwick and Berwick 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 |
$323,300±$36k 9% above ME |
$428,300±$26kHighest 44% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,041±$901 9% below ME |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
| South Berwick and Berwick 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 |
$3,806 25% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
40.9%±45.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| South Berwick 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 ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
73% ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1969 8 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
34 minHighest 37% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
13.7%±7.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| South Berwick 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Cony | — | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | 13.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.