What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has the shortest commute (19 min average).

Naples has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).

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	Naples
People
Population	19,077Highest	3,985Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+1.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME	49.8±6.8Highest 11% above ME
	Naples and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±2.6Highest ME: 18.1%	15.6%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Augusta and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.5%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 22.4%
	Naples 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 ME: 36.2%	37.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%	2.7%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Augusta and Naples 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	$78,188±$13kHighest 5% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME	$340,100±$48kHighest 15% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME	$1,941±$625Highest 70% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,465Lowest 19% below ME	$2,784Highest 8% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±8.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	59.9%±40.1Highest ME: 48.4%
	Naples and Augusta 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%	9.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	87.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 24% below ME	38 minHighest 56% above ME
Work from home	15.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	26.7%±11.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Naples 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	#118 of 133 in ME
School district	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy	RSU 61/MSAD 61
High school in town	Cony	Lake Region High School
Students per teacherat that high school	17.9Highest	11.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.