What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has the oldest population (median age 42.5).

Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Unity
People
Population	19,077Highest	1,858Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME	27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME
Kids under 18	18.9%±2.6Highest ME: 18.1%	14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Augusta and Unity 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%	11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME	$62,857±$6kHighest 16% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME	$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME
	Unity 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	$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME
	Augusta and Unity 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	$2,510Highest 17% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4%	44.8%±13Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Augusta and Unity 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%	17.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	72.3%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 24% below ME	21 minHighest 14% below ME
Work from home	15.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Unity 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 · Ecology Learning Center
High school in town	Cony	Ecology Learning Ctr
Students per teacherat that high school	17.9Highest	12.4Lowest
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.