What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).

Leeds has the highest household income ($85k).

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	Leeds
People
Population	19,077Highest	2,285Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME	38.2±8.3Lowest 15% below ME
	Augusta and Leeds are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	30.6%±9.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Leeds and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4%	14.8%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	23%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	7.4%±3.7Highest ME: 5.8%
	Leeds 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	$85,208±$14kHighest 14% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME	$257,800±$27kHighest 13% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME	$940±$461Highest 17% below ME
	Leeds and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,465Lowest 19% below ME	$2,565Highest 16% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4%	27.1%±11.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	18.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%	19.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	93.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 24% below ME	34 minHighest 37% above ME
Work from home	15.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9%	10%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Augusta and Leeds 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 52/MSAD 52
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

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.