Compare towns
Augusta vs Ogunquit vs Presque Isle vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Augusta has the most kids (18.9% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Presque Isle has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Waterville has the youngest population (median age 35.5).
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 | Presque Isle | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
1,379Lowest |
8,736 |
17,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
44.1±3.5 about the ME average |
35.5±2.5Lowest 21% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3 ME: 18.1% |
14.4%±2.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Augusta and Presque Isle 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% |
22.6%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$55,768±$6k 25% below ME |
$53,580±$4k 28% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Presque Isle 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 |
$147,200±$11kLowest 50% below ME |
$184,600±$21k 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 19% below ME |
— | $904±$54Lowest 21% below ME |
$978±$72Highest 14% below ME |
| Waterville and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465 19% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,401Lowest 21% below ME |
$2,755 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
47.3%±9.7 ME: 48.4% |
50.5%±8.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.2% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.5% ME: 10.7% |
20.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
57.8% ME: 74.3% |
48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 24% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
14 minLowest 41% below ME |
18 min 27% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.6%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 133 in ME | — | #62 of 133 in ME | #105 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Waterville Public Schools |
| High school in town | Cony | — | Presque Isle High School | Waterville Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | 13.7 |
12.8Lowest |
| 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.