What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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	Sutton
People
Population	19,077Highest	9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S.	44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.
	Sutton and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sutton and Augusta 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%	18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Augusta and Sutton 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%	52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sutton 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.	$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S.	$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S.	$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S.
	Sutton and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S.	$6,763Highest 117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Augusta and Sutton 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%	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 29% below U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sutton 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	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy	Sutton
High school in town	Cony	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	17.9Highest	12.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.