What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Manchester has the highest household income ($92k).

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	Manchester
People
Population	19,077Highest	2,424Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME	46.9±4.6Highest 5% above ME
	Manchester and Augusta 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%	19%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Manchester and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.5%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	22.6%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Manchester and Augusta 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 ME: 36.2%	47.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%	2.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Augusta and Manchester 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	$92,031±$16kHighest 23% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME	$299,600±$40kHighest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME	$993±$116Highest 13% below ME
	Manchester 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	$3,486Highest 15% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4%	30.9%±18.6Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Augusta and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.2%Highest ME: 10.7%	4.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME	1977Highest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 24% below ME	20 minHighest 19% below ME
Work from home	15.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9%	11.9%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Augusta and Manchester 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 38
High school in town	Cony	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	17.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.