Compare towns
Augusta vs Mapleton vs Plainfield vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Manchester has the oldest population (median age 46.9).
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 | Plainfield | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
1,884Lowest |
2,522 |
2,424 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.9±4.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Plainfield 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$92,031±$16k 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 40% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$299,600±$40k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 35% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$993±$116 30% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465 21% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,486 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.9%±18.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Plainfield 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Plainfield School District | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | 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 |
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.