What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has the most people working from home (15.1%).

Presque Isle has the most affordable homes ($147k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Augusta	Presque Isle
People
Population	19,077Highest	8,736Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-9.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME	44.1±3.5Highest about the ME average
	Presque Isle 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 ME: 18.1%	18%±3Lowest 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%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	22.6%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Presque Isle and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	26.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	6.5%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME	$55,768±$6kHighest 25% below ME
	Presque Isle and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,000±$18kHighest 32% below ME	$147,200±$11kLowest 50% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$919±$79Highest 19% below ME	$904±$54Lowest 21% below ME
	Augusta and Presque Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,465Highest 19% below ME	$2,401Lowest 21% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4%	47.3%±9.7Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Augusta and Presque Isle 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%	15.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	57.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME	1971Highest 6 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 24% below ME	14 minLowest 41% below ME
Work from home	15.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9%	6.7%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#119 of 133 in ME	#62 of 133 in ME
School district	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy	RSU 79/MSAD 01
High school in town	Cony	Presque Isle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	17.9Highest	13.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.