Compare towns
Augusta vs Saco vs Gray
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Gray has the most homeowners (82.4%).
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 | Saco | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077 |
20,819Highest |
8,429Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
| Saco and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Gray and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4 ME: 22.4% |
| Augusta and Gray 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 ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
44.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Gray and Saco 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 36% below ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$95,236±$8kHighest 27% above ME |
| Gray and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$363,700±$20k 23% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,371±$89Highest 20% above ME |
| Gray and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,683 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Gray and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
72.8% ME: 74.3% |
82.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
29 minHighest 16% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Saco 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Saco Public Schools | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | 12.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.