Compare towns
Augusta vs Mapleton vs Orland vs Manchester
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 most renters (46.2% rent).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Orland has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
Manchester has the most expensive homes ($300k median).
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 | Orland | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
1,884Lowest |
1,915 |
2,424 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
50.6±4.2Highest 13% above ME |
46.9±4.6 5% above ME |
| Orland and Manchester 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% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Orland and Manchester 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% ME: 36.2% |
31.4% ME: 36.2% |
47.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Orland and Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$69,348±$29k 7% below ME |
$92,031±$16kHighest 23% above ME |
| Manchester 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±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$277,100±$20k 7% below ME |
$299,600±$40kHighest about the ME average |
| Manchester and Orland 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 |
$1,149±$177Highest about the ME average |
$993±$116 13% below ME |
| Orland and Manchester 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 |
$2,089 31% below ME |
$3,486Highest 15% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±18.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Orland 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
20 min 19% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Orland 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.