What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).

Biddeford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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	Biddeford
People
Population	19,077Lowest	22,498Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME	35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME
Kids under 18	18.9%±2.6Highest ME: 18.1%	15.6%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Augusta and Biddeford 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%	17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	32.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME	$72,333±$4kHighest 3% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME	$396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME	$1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,465Lowest 19% below ME	$4,401Highest 45% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4%	37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Augusta and Biddeford 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%	15.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 12 yrs older than ME	1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 24% below ME	24 minHighest 4% below ME
Work from home	15.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9%	14.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Augusta and Biddeford 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	#111 of 133 in ME
School district	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy	Biddeford Public Schools
High school in town	Cony	Biddeford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	17.9Highest	14.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.