Compare towns
Augusta vs Hallowell vs Poland
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).
Hallowell has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Poland has the most homeowners (81.9%).
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 | Hallowell | Poland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
2,592Lowest |
5,954 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.9% ME: +2.6% |
+9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
50.3±7.9Highest 12% above ME |
44.2±9.4 about the ME average |
| Hallowell and Poland 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% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Poland 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% |
33.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.8%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% ME: 36.2% |
52.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Hallowell and Poland 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 |
$68,398±$10k 8% below ME |
$85,557±$23kHighest 14% above ME |
| Poland and Hallowell 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 |
$295,300±$45kHighest about the ME average |
$283,600±$44k 4% below ME |
| Hallowell and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 19% below ME |
$890±$175Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,198±$128Highest 5% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$3,867Highest 27% above ME |
$2,774 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±17.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61.6%±30.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Poland 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 ME: 10.7% |
7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
58.3% ME: 74.3% |
81.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 24% below ME |
14 minLowest 43% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Poland and Hallowell 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 | — | #81 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 02 | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | Poland Regional H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | 12.2Lowest |
| 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.