Compare towns
Augusta vs Calais vs Dummerston vs Hallowell
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).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Hallowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
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 | Calais | Dummerston | Hallowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
1,713Lowest |
2,090 |
2,592 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
50.3±7.9Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hallowell and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Dummerston 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% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hallowell and Dummerston 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% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Hallowell 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. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$68,398±$10k 15% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Calais 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. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$295,300±$45k 11% below U.S. |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 35% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$890±$175Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Calais and Dummerston 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. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$3,867 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Calais 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% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.