What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).

Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Augusta	Salem
People
Population	19,077Lowest	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S.	44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S.
	Salem 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%	16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Augusta and Salem 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%	18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Augusta and Salem 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%	38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salem and Augusta 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.	$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S.	$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S.	$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S.	$6,992Highest 124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Augusta and Salem 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%	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 29% below U.S.	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem 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 120 in NH
School district	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy	Salem School District
High school in town	Cony	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	17.9Highest	11.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.