What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).

Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Augusta	Methuen
People
Population	19,077Lowest	53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.5±2.4Highest 9% above U.S.	39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average
	Augusta and Methuen 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%	21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Methuen and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	31%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S.	$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S.	$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S.	$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S.	$5,061Highest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Augusta and Methuen 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%	7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	72.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 29% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Augusta and Methuen 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	#236 of 282 in MA
School district	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy	Methuen
High school in town	Cony	Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school	17.9Highest	13.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.