Compare towns
Augusta vs Exeter vs Hallowell
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 affordable homes ($201k median).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
Hallowell has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Exeter | Hallowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
16,151 |
2,592Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
50.3±7.9Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hallowell and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Augusta and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hallowell and Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hallowell and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$68,398±$10k 15% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$295,300±$45k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 35% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$890±$175Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,867 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | Cony | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 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.