Compare towns
Augusta vs Exeter vs Waterville
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 kids (18.9% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Waterville has the youngest population (median age 35.5).
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 | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
16,151Lowest |
17,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
35.5±2.5Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest 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%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.8% 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% |
18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$53,580±$4k 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 40% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$184,600±$21kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$978±$72 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$2,755 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.5%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Waterville 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 | #105 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Waterville Public Schools |
| High school in town | Cony | Exeter High School | Waterville Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.