Compare towns
Augusta vs Biddeford vs Waterville
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 kids (18.9% under 18).
Biddeford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Waterville has the most people working from home (16.6%).
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.
| Measure | Augusta | Biddeford | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077 |
22,498Highest |
17,077Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
35.5±2.5 21% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest 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% |
18.3%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Augusta and Waterville 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% |
32.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$72,333±$4kHighest 3% below ME |
$53,580±$4k 28% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
$396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME |
$184,600±$21kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME |
$978±$72 14% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$4,401Highest 45% above ME |
$2,755 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.5%±8.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.2% ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
48.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 12 yrs older than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1959 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 24% below ME |
24 minHighest 4% below ME |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.6%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Waterville 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 | #105 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Biddeford Public Schools | Waterville Public Schools |
| High school in town | Cony | Biddeford High School | Waterville Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
14.1 |
12.8Lowest |
| 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.