Compare towns

Augusta vs Sutton 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 affordable homes ($201k median).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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.

MeasureAugustaSuttonBangor
People
Population
19,077
9,452Lowest
31,938Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.5±2.4
9% above U.S.
44.3±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
41±1.3Lowest
5% 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%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±1.7Lowest
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%
19.9%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Augusta and Bangor 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%
35.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
10.4%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$47,979±$3kLowest
41% below U.S.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
$59,942±$7k
26% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$201,000±$18kLowest
40% below U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
$219,600±$10k
34% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$919±$79Lowest
35% below U.S.
$1,190±$401Highest
16% below U.S.
$1,055±$43
25% below U.S.
Sutton and Bangor 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.
$3,076
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.2%±8.3
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4Lowest
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%
5.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
17.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%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.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
17 minLowest
37% below U.S.
Work from home
15.1%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.1%±2.5Lowest
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 #37 of 133 in ME
School district Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy Sutton Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4
High school in town Cony Sutton High School Bangor High School
Students per teacherat that high school
17.9Highest
12.6Lowest
13.3
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.