Compare towns
Augusta vs Chester vs Waterville
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 kids (18.9% under 18).
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
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 | Chester | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
2,992Lowest |
17,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
35.5±2.5Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Augusta and Waterville 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$62,125±$8kHighest 23% below U.S. |
$53,580±$4k 34% below U.S. |
| Chester and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 40% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$184,600±$21kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Chester and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$978±$72Highest 31% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Chester 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. |
$4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
$2,755 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.5%±8.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterville and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterville 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #105 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Waterville Public Schools |
| High school in town | Cony | Green Mountain Union High School | Waterville Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
8.7Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.