What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).

Cherryfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Augusta	Cherryfield
People
Population	19,077Highest	809Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME	58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME
Kids under 18	18.9%±2.6Highest ME: 18.1%	11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Augusta and Cherryfield 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%	32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Cherryfield and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%	1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Augusta and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$47,979±$3kHighest 36% below ME	$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME
	Augusta and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,000±$18kHighest 32% below ME	$195,800±$53kLowest 34% below ME
	Augusta and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$919±$79Highest 19% below ME	$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,465Highest 19% below ME	$1,950Lowest 36% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±8.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	60.5%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4%
	Cherryfield and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%	26.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	66.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME	1977Highest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 24% below ME	30 minHighest 22% above ME
Work from home	15.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9%
	Cherryfield 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	—
School district	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy	Cherryfield Public Schools
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

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.