What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).

Sullivan has the most homeowners (85.2%).

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	Sullivan
People
Population	19,077Highest	1,246Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME	47.1±15Highest 5% above ME
	Sullivan 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 ME: 18.1%	18%±5.2Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Augusta and Sullivan 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%	22.5%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Sullivan 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%Highest ME: 36.2%	26%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Sullivan 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	$59,643±$14kHighest 20% below ME
	Sullivan and Augusta 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	$222,000±$33kHighest 25% below ME
	Sullivan and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$919±$79Highest 19% below ME	$883±$114Lowest 22% below ME
	Augusta and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,465Highest 19% below ME	$2,228Lowest 27% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4%	34.9%±23.6Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Augusta and Sullivan 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%	13.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME	1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 24% below ME	26 minHighest 7% above ME
Work from home	15.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9%	12.6%±7.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Augusta and Sullivan 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 24
High school in town	Cony	Sumner Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	17.9Highest	10.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.