Compare towns
Augusta vs Mapleton vs China vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Augusta has the oldest population (median age 42.5).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
China has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
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 | Mapleton | China | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
1,884Lowest |
4,526 |
17,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40.9±5.9 9% below ME |
35.5±2.5Lowest 21% below ME |
| Augusta and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and China 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Augusta and China 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.9% ME: 36.2% |
30.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$96,309±$12kHighest 29% above ME |
$53,580±$4k 28% below ME |
| China and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$240,000±$37kHighest 19% below ME |
$184,600±$21kLowest 38% below ME |
| China and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 19% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— | $978±$72Highest 14% below ME |
| Waterville and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465 19% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,535 17% below ME |
$2,755Highest 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.5%±8.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| 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% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 24% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 21% above ME |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
16.6%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Waterville 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 | — | #27 of 133 in ME | #105 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 18 | Waterville Public Schools |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | None in town | Waterville Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | — | 12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.