Compare towns
Augusta vs Dummerston vs Hallowell 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
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Hallowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
Waterville has the youngest population (median age 35.5).
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 | Dummerston | Hallowell | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
2,090Lowest |
2,592 |
17,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
50.3±7.9Highest 29% above U.S. |
35.5±2.5Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Hallowell and Dummerston 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% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hallowell and Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$68,398±$10k 15% below U.S. |
$53,580±$4k 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 40% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$295,300±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$184,600±$21kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 35% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$890±$175Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$978±$72 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$4,536Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,867 24% above U.S. |
$2,755 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±17.9Lowest 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% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Hallowell 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 |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | RSU 02 | Waterville Public Schools |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | None in town | Waterville Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | — | 12.8Lowest |
| 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.