Compare towns
Augusta vs Bingham vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Augusta has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).
Bingham has the most affordable homes ($103k median).
Manchester has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Bingham | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
660Lowest |
2,424 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
56±8.2Highest 25% above ME |
46.9±4.6 5% above ME |
| Bingham and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±6.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Manchester and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.3%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% ME: 36.2% |
22.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Augusta and Bingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3k 36% below ME |
$42,708±$22kLowest 43% below ME |
$92,031±$16kHighest 23% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
$103,000±$26kLowest 65% below ME |
$299,600±$40kHighest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 19% below ME |
$354±$264Lowest 69% below ME |
$993±$116Highest 13% below ME |
| Manchester and Augusta 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 |
$1,059Lowest 65% below ME |
$3,486Highest 15% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±45.9 ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±18.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Bingham 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% |
16.1% ME: 10.7% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
20 min 19% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Augusta and Manchester 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 | — | — |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 83/MSAD 13 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Cony | Upper Kennebec Valley Middle/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
7.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.