Compare towns
Augusta vs Proctor vs Manchester
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 renters (46.2% rent).
Proctor has the most homeowners (86.3%).
Manchester has the most expensive homes ($300k 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.
| Measure | Augusta | Proctor | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
1,586Lowest |
2,424 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
47.3±8.9Highest 22% above U.S. |
46.9±4.6 21% above U.S. |
| Proctor and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Manchester and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Proctor and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Proctor and Augusta 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 41% below U.S. |
$75,060±$12k 7% below U.S. |
$92,031±$16kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Manchester and Proctor 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. |
$206,000±$20k 38% below U.S. |
$299,600±$40kHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,059±$200Highest 25% below U.S. |
$993±$116 30% below U.S. |
| Proctor and Manchester 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. |
$3,944Highest 26% above U.S. |
$3,486 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.4%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.9%±18.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Proctor 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% |
10% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Augusta and Manchester 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 | — | — |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | — | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Cony | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9 |
— | — |
| 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.