What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has the most people working from home (15.1%).

Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).

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	Brandon
People
Population	19,077Highest	4,120Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S.	50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brandon 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 U.S.: 17.2%	22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brandon 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	32.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Augusta and Brandon 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 41% below U.S.	$64,180±$12kHighest 21% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S.	$227,800±$23kHighest 32% below U.S.
	Brandon and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S.	$1,064±$225Highest 25% below U.S.
	Brandon and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S.	$4,241Highest 36% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.7%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Augusta and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	14.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S.	1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 29% below U.S.	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Augusta and Brandon 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	#69 of 70 in VT
School district	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy	Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53
High school in town	Cony	Otter Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	17.9Highest	9.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.