Compare towns
Augusta vs Sharon 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 people working from home (15.1%).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Sharon | Bangor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077 |
1,577Lowest |
31,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
41±1.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Sharon 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% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon and Augusta 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% |
25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Augusta 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% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$84,375±$17kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$59,942±$7k 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$346,700±$37kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$219,600±$10k 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,055±$43 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$3,076 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bangor 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% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
47.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Augusta and Sharon 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 | Sharon School District | 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.