Compare towns
Augusta vs Laconia vs Hallowell
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).
Laconia has the most expensive homes ($340k median).
Hallowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
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 | Laconia | Hallowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
17,085 |
2,592Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.3±3.9 16% above U.S. |
50.3±7.9Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hallowell and Laconia 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% |
18.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Augusta and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 41% below U.S. |
$73,218±$12kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$68,398±$10k 15% below U.S. |
| Laconia 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 40% below U.S. |
$340,300±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$295,300±$45k 11% below U.S. |
| Laconia and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 35% below U.S. |
$1,224±$107Highest 13% below U.S. |
$890±$175Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$4,484Highest 44% above U.S. |
$3,867 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±10.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Laconia 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% |
12.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minHighest 29% below U.S. |
17 min 36% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #105 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Laconia School District | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | Cony | Laconia High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
10.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.