Compare towns
Augusta vs Reading vs Chelsea
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Chelsea has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
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 | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
699Lowest |
2,823 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.2±3.6Lowest 8% 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%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chelsea 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Chelsea 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% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Augusta and Chelsea 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. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$85,471±$10kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Chelsea and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 40% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$182,300±$37kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,373±$90Highest about the U.S. average |
| Chelsea and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465 21% below U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$2,313Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
15%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Augusta 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±3Lowest 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 | — | #93 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | 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.