What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has the most people working from home (15.1%).

Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Augusta	Lawrence
People
Population	19,077Lowest	88,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.5±2.4Highest 9% above U.S.	32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S.
Kids under 18	18.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lawrence 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.	$60,433±$3kHighest 25% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S.	$415,200±$23kHighest 25% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S.	$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S.	$3,422Highest 10% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lawrence 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%	17.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S.	1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 29% below U.S.	23 minHighest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#119 of 133 in ME	#278 of 282 in MA
School district	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy	Lawrence
High school in town	Cony	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	17.9Highest	13.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.