Compare towns

Augusta vs Northfield 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).
Northfield has the most homeowners (73.5%).
Hallowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).

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.

MeasureAugustaNorthfieldHallowell
People
Population
19,077Highest
5,920
2,592Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.5±2.4
9% above U.S.
36.4±4.1Lowest
6% below U.S.
50.3±7.9Highest
29% above U.S.
Hallowell 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
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
13.2%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Augusta and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.5%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
20%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.2%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.5%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%
6.4%±6.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$47,979±$3kLowest
41% below U.S.
$71,768±$13kHighest
11% below U.S.
$68,398±$10k
15% below U.S.
Northfield 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.
$274,400±$21k
18% below U.S.
$295,300±$45kHighest
11% below U.S.
Hallowell and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$919±$79
35% below U.S.
$1,018±$207Highest
28% below U.S.
$890±$175Lowest
37% below U.S.
Northfield 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.
$4,878Highest
56% above U.S.
$3,867
24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.2%±8.3
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.1%±17.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Northfield 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
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
58.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965Highest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1956
24 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
29% below U.S.
27 minHighest
3% above U.S.
14 minLowest
47% below U.S.
Work from home
15.1%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hallowell 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 #42 of 70 in VT —
School district Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy Paine Mountain Union School District #68 RSU 02
High school in town Cony Northfield Middle/High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
17.9Highest
10.0Lowest
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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.