Compare towns
Augusta vs Chelsea vs Ogunquit
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 renters (46.2% rent).
Chelsea has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Chelsea | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
2,823 |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
42.2±3.6Lowest 6% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Chelsea 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 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% ME: 36.2% |
20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit 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 |
$85,471±$10k 14% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Chelsea 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 |
$182,300±$37kLowest 39% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,373±$90Highest 21% above ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465 19% below ME |
$2,313Lowest 24% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
15%±19.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
36 minHighest 48% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
6%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 133 in ME | #93 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 12 | — |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9 |
— | — |
| 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.