Compare towns
Augusta vs Gorham vs Bangor vs Brewer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Bangor has the most renters (52.8% rent).
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 | Gorham | Bangor | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077 |
18,300 |
31,938Highest |
9,652Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
41±1.3 8% below ME |
40.1±4.8 10% below ME |
| Augusta and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.9%±1.9 ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Brewer 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 ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
35.1% ME: 36.2% |
35% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
10.4%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Gorham and Bangor 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 36% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$59,942±$7k 20% below ME |
$66,613±$9k 11% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$219,600±$10k 26% below ME |
$245,300±$21k 17% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,055±$43 7% below ME |
$1,086±$54 5% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,076 about the ME average |
$3,374 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
51.5%±6.5 ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Brewer and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.9% ME: 10.7% |
12.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
47.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
59.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
1959 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 24% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
17 minLowest 33% below ME |
17 min 31% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±2.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #37 of 133 in ME | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Gorham Public Schools | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Cony | Gorham High School | Bangor High School | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
12.9Lowest |
13.3 |
14.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.