Compare towns
Augusta vs Cornwall vs Waterville vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornwall has the highest household income ($115k).
Waterville has the youngest population (median age 35.5).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Cornwall | Waterville | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077 |
1,208Lowest |
17,077 |
24,602Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6Highest 30% above U.S. |
35.5±2.5Lowest 9% below U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Auburn and Augusta 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% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$53,580±$4k 34% below U.S. |
$66,647±$5k 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 40% below U.S. |
$458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$184,600±$21kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$282,000±$12k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,125±$206Highest 20% below U.S. |
$978±$72 31% below U.S. |
$1,041±$74 26% below U.S. |
| Cornwall and Auburn 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. |
$6,726Highest 116% above U.S. |
$2,755 12% below U.S. |
$3,687 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.5%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall and Auburn 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% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall and Waterville 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 | — | #105 of 133 in ME | #110 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Waterville Public Schools | Auburn Public Schools |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | Waterville Senior High School | Edward Little High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
13.1 |
| 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.