Compare towns
Augusta vs Berwick vs Mapleton vs Chelsea
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 renters (46.2% rent).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Chelsea has the most affordable homes ($182k 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 | Mapleton | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
8,175 |
1,884Lowest |
2,823 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME |
40.7±2.9Lowest 9% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
42.2±3.6 6% below ME |
| Augusta and Chelsea 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% |
22.7%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chelsea and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Chelsea 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% ME: 36.2% |
35%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Berwick 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 |
$94,771±$24kHighest 27% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$85,471±$10k 14% above ME |
| Berwick and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
$369,100±$19kHighest 24% above ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$182,300±$37kLowest 39% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 19% below ME |
$1,452±$430Highest 27% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,373±$90 21% above ME |
| Berwick and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465 19% below ME |
$4,436Highest 46% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,313 24% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
50.6%±46Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
15%±19.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| 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% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
36 minHighest 48% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | — | #93 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.