Compare towns
Augusta vs Gorham vs West Bath
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%).
West Bath has the oldest population (median age 54.2).
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 | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
18,300 |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
54.2±5.6Highest 21% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham 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 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.4%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
50.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$103,333±$27k 38% above ME |
| Gorham and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$422,800±$102k 43% above ME |
| Gorham and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,112±$327 about the ME average |
| Gorham and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,516 16% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
41.1%±26.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and West Bath 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% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
82.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
21 min 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and West Bath 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 | — |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Gorham Public Schools | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | Cony | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
12.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.