Compare towns
Augusta vs Calais vs Presque Isle
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 renters (46.2% rent).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Presque Isle has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
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 | Presque Isle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
1,713Lowest |
8,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.1±3.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Presque Isle 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais 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% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Presque Isle and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Presque Isle 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±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$55,768±$6k 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 40% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$147,200±$11kLowest 56% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 35% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$904±$54Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465 21% below U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$2,401Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±9.7Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Augusta 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 | — | #62 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | Presque Isle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | 13.7Lowest |
| 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.