Compare towns
Augusta vs Hampton vs Meredith vs Waterville
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 kids (18.9% under 18).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k median).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Waterville has the youngest population (median age 35.5).
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 | Hampton | Meredith | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
10,101 |
6,758Lowest |
17,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
35.5±2.5Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Augusta and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Hampton 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% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$97,163±$4kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$53,580±$4k 34% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 40% below U.S. |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$184,600±$21kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Meredith 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. |
$1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$978±$72 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$2,755 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.5%±8.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterville and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #105 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Waterville Public Schools |
| High school in town | Cony | — | Inter-Lakes High School | Waterville Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.