Compare towns

Augusta vs Dracut vs Bangor

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 people working from home (15.1%).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Bangor has the most renters (52.8% rent).

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.

MeasureAugustaDracutBangor
People
Population
19,077Lowest
32,574Highest
31,938
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.5±2.4Highest
9% above U.S.
41.7±2
7% above U.S.
41±1.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
Augusta and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.9%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Dracut and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.5%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Augusta and Bangor 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%
36.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
10.4%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$47,979±$3kLowest
41% below U.S.
$114,036±$10kHighest
41% above U.S.
$59,942±$7k
26% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$201,000±$18kLowest
40% below U.S.
$473,900±$17kHighest
42% above U.S.
$219,600±$10k
34% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$919±$79Lowest
35% below U.S.
$1,839±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,055±$43
25% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,465Lowest
21% below U.S.
$5,375Highest
72% above U.S.
$3,076
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.2%±8.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.6%±7.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.5%±6.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Dracut and Bangor 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%
7.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
17.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
47.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
29% below U.S.
30 minHighest
15% above U.S.
17 minLowest
37% below U.S.
Work from home
15.1%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.4%±2
U.S.: 15.1%
10.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Augusta and Dracut 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 #201 of 282 in MA #37 of 133 in ME
School district Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy Dracut Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4
High school in town Cony Dracut Senior High Bangor High School
Students per teacherat that high school
17.9Highest
12.9Lowest
13.3
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.