Compare towns
Augusta vs Durham vs Lewiston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Lewiston has the youngest population (median age 37.3).
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 | Durham | Lewiston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077 |
4,262Lowest |
38,324Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
42.6±5.9Highest 5% below ME |
37.3±1.2Lowest 17% below ME |
| Durham and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.6%±1.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Lewiston and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Augusta and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
10.1%±1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$55,393±$4k 26% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$235,100±$8k 21% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
— | $986±$44Highest 13% below ME |
| Lewiston and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$2,899 5% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
51.7%±5.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Lewiston and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.2% ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
51.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1957Lowest 20 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
21 min 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Durham 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 | #14 of 133 in ME | #132 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 05 | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | Lewiston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | 14.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.