Compare towns
Augusta vs Fair Haven vs Manchester
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).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Manchester has the most expensive homes ($300k 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 | Fair Haven | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
2,724 |
2,424Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.9±4.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Manchester and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Fair Haven and Manchester 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% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Manchester 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% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fair Haven and Augusta 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. |
$62,404±$16k 23% below U.S. |
$92,031±$16kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Manchester and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 40% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$299,600±$40kHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 35% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$993±$116Highest 30% below U.S. |
| Manchester and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$3,865Highest 24% above U.S. |
$3,486 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.9%±18.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fair Haven and Augusta 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% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Augusta and Manchester 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Cony | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
12.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 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.