Compare towns
Augusta vs Brewer vs Manchester vs Ogunquit
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).
Brewer has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Brewer | Manchester | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
9,652 |
2,424 |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
46.9±4.6 5% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
19%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Brewer and Manchester 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% |
22.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
35% ME: 36.2% |
47.5% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Brewer and Ogunquit 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 |
$66,613±$9k 11% below ME |
$92,031±$16k 23% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Manchester 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 |
$245,300±$21k 17% below ME |
$299,600±$40k about the ME average |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,086±$54Highest 5% below ME |
$993±$116 13% below ME |
— |
| Brewer and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$3,374 11% above ME |
$3,486 15% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±18.6 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Brewer and Augusta 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% |
12.5% ME: 10.7% |
4.5% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
59.7% ME: 74.3% |
85% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 24% below ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
20 min 19% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 133 in ME | #32 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Brewer Public Schools | RSU 38 | — |
| High school in town | Cony | Brewer High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
14.0Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.