Compare towns
Augusta vs Meredith vs Hallowell
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 kids (18.9% under 18).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Hallowell has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Meredith | Hallowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
6,758 |
2,592Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
50.3±7.9 29% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Augusta and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Hallowell 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% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hallowell 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 41% below U.S. |
$87,019±$19kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$68,398±$10k 15% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$295,300±$45k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 35% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Highest 19% below U.S. |
$890±$175Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$3,867 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Meredith 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% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Hallowell 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | Cony | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.