Compare towns
Augusta vs Durham vs Chelsea
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 renters (46.2% rent).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Chelsea has the most homeowners (88.6%).
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.
| Measure | Augusta | Durham | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
15,080 |
2,823Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Highest 9% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
42.2±3.6 8% above U.S. |
| Augusta and Chelsea 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chelsea 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chelsea 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$85,471±$10k 6% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 40% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$182,300±$37kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,373±$90 about the U.S. average |
| Durham and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465 21% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,313Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
15%±19.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±3Lowest 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 | #93 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | Cony | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
12.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.