Compare towns

Augusta vs Carmel vs Hermon

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 people working from home (15.1%).
Carmel has the most homeowners (87.9%).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).

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.

MeasureAugustaCarmelHermon
People
Population
19,077Highest
2,941Lowest
6,727
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+2.6%
ME: +2.6%
+19.3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
42.5±2.4
5% below ME
46.4±4.5Highest
4% above ME
41.1±4.7Lowest
8% below ME
Carmel 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%
18.6%±4.3Lowest
ME: 18.1%
21.6%±4.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
Hermon 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%
16.5%±5Lowest
ME: 22.4%
20.4%±4.7
ME: 22.4%
Augusta and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.9%
ME: 36.2%
17.2%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
37.6%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1
ME: 5.8%
1.9%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.8%±2.1Highest
ME: 5.8%
Hermon and Augusta 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
$82,188±$22k
10% above ME
$96,629±$22kHighest
29% above ME
Hermon and Carmel 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
$256,800±$37k
13% below ME
$333,600±$32kHighest
12% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$919±$79Lowest
19% below ME
$1,276±$187
12% above ME
$1,406±$202Highest
23% above ME
Hermon and Carmel 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
$2,662
12% below ME
$2,761Highest
9% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.2%±8.3
ME: 48.4%
56.4%±38.1Highest
ME: 48.4%
28.2%±19.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Carmel 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%
13.6%
ME: 10.7%
6.8%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
87.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
75.2%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965Lowest
12 yrs older than ME
1996
19 yrs newer than ME
2000Highest
23 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
24% below ME
25 minHighest
about the ME average
23 min
8% below ME
Work from home
15.1%±3.7Highest
ME: 15.9%
6.5%±4.4Lowest
ME: 15.9%
8.8%±4.2
ME: 15.9%
Augusta and Hermon 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 #77 of 133 in ME #54 of 133 in ME
School district Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy RSU 87/MSAD 23 Hermon Public Schools
High school in town Cony None in town Hermon High School
Students per teacherat that high school
17.9Highest
—
14.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.