Compare towns
Augusta vs Smithfield vs Presque Isle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Augusta has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).
Presque Isle has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
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 | Presque Isle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
856Lowest |
8,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-9.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
44.1±3.5 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3 ME: 18.1% |
| Augusta and Presque Isle 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%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$55,768±$6k 25% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
$242,800±$15kHighest 18% below ME |
$147,200±$11kLowest 50% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 19% below ME |
$1,109±$358Highest about the ME average |
$904±$54Lowest 21% 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 | $2,465 19% below ME |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
$2,401Lowest 21% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
47.3%±9.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Presque Isle 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% |
15.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
57.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 24% below ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
14 minLowest 41% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield 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 | — | #62 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | Cony | — | Presque Isle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | 13.7Lowest |
| 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.