Compare towns
Augusta vs Ogunquit vs Bangor vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Bangor has the most renters (52.8% rent).
Chelsea has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Bangor | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077 |
1,379Lowest |
31,938Highest |
2,823 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
41±1.3Lowest 8% below ME |
42.2±3.6 6% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±1.7 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chelsea and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
35.1% ME: 36.2% |
20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
10.4%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$59,942±$7k 20% below ME |
$85,471±$10k 14% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$219,600±$10k 26% below ME |
$182,300±$37kLowest 39% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
— | $1,055±$43 7% below ME |
$1,373±$90Highest 21% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465 19% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,076 about the ME average |
$2,313Lowest 24% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
51.5%±6.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
15%±19.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Bangor 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
47.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 24% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
17 minLowest 33% below ME |
36 minHighest 48% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±2.5 ME: 15.9% |
6%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 133 in ME | — | #37 of 133 in ME | #93 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | — | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | Cony | — | Bangor High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | 13.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.