What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has the most people working from home (15.1%).

Waterboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

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	Waterboro
People
Population	19,077Highest	8,055Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+3.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME	42±3.1Lowest 6% below ME
	Augusta and Waterboro 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%	22.5%±4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Waterboro 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%	14.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.7%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8%
	Waterboro 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	$89,392±$16kHighest 20% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME	$297,000±$23kHighest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME	$1,200±$461Highest 5% above ME
	Waterboro and Augusta 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	$2,772Highest 9% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±8.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	50.2%±12.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Waterboro 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 ME: 10.7%	6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.1%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	35 minHighest 42% above ME
Work from home	15.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9%	10%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Augusta and Waterboro 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	#80 of 133 in ME
School district	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy	RSU 57/MSAD 57
High school in town	Cony	Massabesic High School
Students per teacherat that high school	17.9Highest	13.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.