Compare towns
Augusta vs Biddeford vs Hallowell
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).
Biddeford has the most expensive homes ($397k median).
Hallowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
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.
| Measure | Augusta | Biddeford | Hallowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077 |
22,498Highest |
2,592Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6% ME: +2.6% |
+7.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
50.3±7.9Highest 12% above ME |
| Hallowell 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% |
15.6%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest 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%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
33.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.1% ME: 36.2% |
52.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
6.4%±6.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Biddeford and Hallowell 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 |
$72,333±$4kHighest 3% below ME |
$68,398±$10k 8% below ME |
| Biddeford and Hallowell 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 |
$396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME |
$295,300±$45k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 19% below ME |
$1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME |
$890±$175Lowest 22% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$4,401Highest 45% above ME |
$3,867 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6 ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±17.9Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
58.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 12 yrs older than ME |
1952 25 yrs older than ME |
1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 24% below ME |
24 minHighest 4% below ME |
14 minLowest 43% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hallowell 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 | #111 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Biddeford Public Schools | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | Cony | Biddeford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
14.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.