Compare towns
Augusta vs Putney vs Waterville
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 kids (18.9% under 18).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k median).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
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 | Putney | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
2,622Lowest |
17,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Highest 9% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
35.5±2.5Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Augusta and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Augusta and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Augusta and Waterville 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
18.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Waterville 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. |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$53,580±$4k 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 40% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$184,600±$21kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 35% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$978±$72Highest 31% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Augusta 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. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,755 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.5%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minHighest 29% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney and Waterville 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #105 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Waterville Public Schools |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | Waterville Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| 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.