Compare towns
Augusta vs Ogunquit vs Wells vs Hallowell
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 affordable homes ($201k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Hallowell has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Wells | Hallowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
1,379Lowest |
11,713 |
2,592 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
+7.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
50.3±7.9 12% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Augusta and Wells 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
33.2%±7.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Hallowell 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% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
52.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hallowell and Wells 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
$68,398±$10k 8% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
$295,300±$45k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 19% below ME |
— | $1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$890±$175Lowest 22% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,215 6% above ME |
$3,867 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±17.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Wells 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% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
58.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 24% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
14 minLowest 43% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 133 in ME | — | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | Cony | — | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.