What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has the oldest population (median age 42.5).

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Augusta	Durham
People
Population	19,077Highest	15,080Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.5±2.4Highest 9% above U.S.	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.
Kids under 18	18.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S.	$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S.	$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S.	$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Durham and Augusta 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%	15.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	64.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 29% below U.S.	19 minHighest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	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	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Cony	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	17.9Highest	12.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	51 photos →

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.