Compare towns
Augusta vs Northfield vs Bangor
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).
Northfield has the most homeowners (73.5%).
Bangor has the most renters (52.8% rent).
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 | Northfield | Bangor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077 |
5,920Lowest |
31,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Highest 9% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
41±1.3 5% above U.S. |
| Augusta and Bangor 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% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Augusta and Bangor 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% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Augusta and Northfield 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% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$59,942±$7k 26% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Bangor 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. |
$274,400±$21kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$219,600±$10k 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
$1,055±$43Highest 25% below U.S. |
| Bangor and Northfield 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. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$3,076 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Bangor 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% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
47.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Augusta and Northfield 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | #37 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 |
| High school in town | Cony | Northfield Middle/High School | Bangor High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
10.0Lowest |
13.3 |
| 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.