Compare towns
Augusta vs Smithfield vs Hallowell
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 kids (18.9% under 18).
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).
Hallowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
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 | Smithfield | Hallowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
856Lowest |
2,592 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
50.3±7.9 12% above ME |
| Smithfield and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Augusta and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
33.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Hallowell and Smithfield 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% |
34.7% ME: 36.2% |
52.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hallowell 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 36% below ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$68,398±$10k 8% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$242,800±$15k 18% below ME |
$295,300±$45kHighest about the ME average |
| Hallowell and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 19% below ME |
$1,109±$358Highest about the ME average |
$890±$175Lowest 22% below ME |
| Smithfield and Augusta 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 |
$2,866 6% below ME |
$3,867Highest 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±17.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Smithfield 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
58.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 24% below ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
14 minLowest 43% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Hallowell 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 | — | — |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | — | RSU 02 |
| 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 |
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.