Compare towns
Augusta vs Buxton vs Gorham vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buxton has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Waterville has the youngest population (median age 35.5).
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 | Buxton | Gorham | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
8,512Lowest |
18,300 |
17,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
45.5±3.9Highest about the ME average |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
35.5±2.5Lowest 21% below ME |
| Buxton and Augusta 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% |
16.2%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Augusta 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% |
19.2%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Augusta and Buxton 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% |
30.3% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$100,144±$21k 34% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$53,580±$4k 28% below ME |
| Gorham and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
$356,800±$21k 20% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$184,600±$21kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,613±$266 42% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$978±$72 14% below ME |
| Gorham and Buxton 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 |
$3,422 13% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$2,755 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
26.9%±26.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 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% |
2.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
20.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% ME: 74.3% |
80.3% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 24% below ME |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.6%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Waterville 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 | #104 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #105 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Gorham Public Schools | Waterville Public Schools |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | Gorham High School | Waterville Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | 12.9 |
12.8Lowest |
| 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.