Compare towns
Augusta vs Reading vs Bangor
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 affordable homes ($201k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Bangor has the most renters (52.8% rent).
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 | Reading | Bangor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077 |
699Lowest |
31,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
41±1.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Reading 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Augusta and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$59,942±$7k 26% below U.S. |
| Reading and Bangor 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. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$219,600±$10k 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,055±$43 25% below U.S. |
| Reading and Bangor 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. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$3,076 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Bangor 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% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
47.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Augusta 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 | — | #37 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | Bangor High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | 13.3Lowest |
| 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.