What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has the oldest population (median age 42.5).

Thorndike has the most people working from home (44.7%).

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	Thorndike
People
Population	19,077Highest	1,403Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-13%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME	19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME
	Augusta and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Thorndike 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 ME: 22.4%	11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	25.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%	1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Augusta and Thorndike 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	$78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME	$205,600±$88kHighest 31% below ME
	Thorndike 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	$836±$317Lowest 27% below ME
	Augusta and Thorndike 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	$2,537Highest 16% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4%	36%±62.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Augusta and Thorndike 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%	6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	87.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 24% below ME	36 minHighest 46% above ME
Work from home	15.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Thorndike 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	—
School district	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy	RSU 03/MSAD 03
High school in town	Cony	Mt View High School
Students per teacherat that high school	17.9Highest	11.7Lowest
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.