Compare towns
Augusta vs Rupert 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 most renters (46.2% rent).
Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
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 | Rupert | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
676Lowest |
2,823 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
42.2±3.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest 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% |
42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%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% |
2.1%±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. |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$85,471±$10k 6% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Chelsea 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. |
$362,500±$63kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$182,300±$37kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
— | $1,373±$90Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465 21% below U.S. |
$4,594Highest 47% above U.S. |
$2,313Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
15%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Rupert 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% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rupert 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 | — | RSU 12 |
| 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.