Compare towns
Augusta vs Halifax vs Hanson
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).
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
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 | Halifax | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
7,748Lowest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Hanson 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% |
22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Augusta and Hanson 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% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Halifax and Hanson 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. |
$118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Halifax 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. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Augusta and Halifax 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Halifax | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | 14.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.