Compare towns
Augusta vs Durham vs Topsham
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 the most people working from home (20.9%).
Topsham has the most expensive homes ($361k median).
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 | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
4,262Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
44.7±4Highest about the ME average |
| Topsham and Durham 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% |
19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Topsham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Topsham 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 ME: 36.2% |
34.8% ME: 36.2% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
| Durham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
$360,800±$20kHighest 22% above ME |
| Topsham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
— | $1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME |
| Topsham 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 |
$3,781 25% above ME |
$4,259Highest 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Topsham 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 | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 05 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | 12.2Lowest |
| 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.