Compare towns
Augusta vs Meredith 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 affordable homes ($201k median).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Manchester has the most homeowners (85%).
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 | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
6,758 |
2,424Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
46.9±4.6 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Augusta and Meredith 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±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$92,031±$16kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Manchester and Meredith 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. |
$299,600±$40k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Highest 19% below U.S. |
$993±$116 30% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Manchester 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. |
$3,486 12% 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% |
30.9%±18.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | RSU 38 |
| 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.