Compare towns
Augusta vs Hallowell vs Starks
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 kids (18.9% under 18).
Hallowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
Starks has the most homeowners (90%).
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 | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
2,592 |
556Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
50.3±7.9Highest 12% above ME |
46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
| Hallowell and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Augusta and Starks 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% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% ME: 36.2% |
52.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Hallowell 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 36% below ME |
$68,398±$10kHighest 8% below ME |
$63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
| Hallowell and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
$295,300±$45kHighest about the ME average |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 19% below ME |
$890±$175Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
| Starks and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465 19% below ME |
$3,867Highest 27% above ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±17.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.2% ME: 10.7% |
7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
58.3% ME: 74.3% |
90%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 |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hallowell 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 | — | — |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 02 | — |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9 |
— | — |
| 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.