Compare towns

Augusta vs Brookfield vs Plainfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).

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.

MeasureAugustaBrookfieldPlainfield
People
Population
19,077Highest
1,486
1,314Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.5±2.4Lowest
9% above U.S.
47±5.9
21% above U.S.
48.1±5.5Highest
24% above U.S.
Plainfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.9%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Augusta and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.5%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
29.7%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookfield 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%
45.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Augusta and Brookfield 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.
$98,500±$23kHighest
22% above U.S.
$69,250±$31k
14% below U.S.
Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$201,000±$18kLowest
40% below U.S.
$339,300±$15kHighest
about the U.S. average
$318,400±$34k
4% below U.S.
Brookfield and Plainfield 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.
$975±$306
31% below U.S.
$1,153±$103Highest
18% below U.S.
Plainfield and Brookfield 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.
$4,560
46% above U.S.
$4,806Highest
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.2%±8.3
U.S.: 51.1%
30.4%±27.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield 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
U.S.: 12.5%
6.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
Work from home
15.1%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookfield and Plainfield 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 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 —
High school in town Cony None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
17.9
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.