Compare towns
Augusta vs Castleton vs Northfield 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).
Castleton has the most homeowners (79%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Castleton | Northfield | Hallowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
4,453 |
5,920 |
2,592Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
50.3±7.9Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hallowell and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Augusta and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
$68,398±$10k 15% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Northfield 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. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$295,300±$45kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Hallowell and Northfield 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. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
$890±$175Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Northfield 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. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$3,867 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Northfield 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% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hallowell 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.