What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has the most kids (18.9% under 18).

Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).

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	Waterville
People
Population	19,077Highest	17,077Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+0.7%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME	35.5±2.5Lowest 21% below ME
Kids under 18	18.9%±2.6Highest ME: 18.1%	14.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Augusta and Waterville 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%	18.3%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Augusta and Waterville 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 ME: 36.2%	30.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME	$53,580±$4kHighest 28% below ME
	Waterville and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,000±$18kHighest 32% below ME	$184,600±$21kLowest 38% below ME
	Augusta and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME	$978±$72Highest 14% below ME
	Waterville 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	$2,755Highest 9% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±8.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	50.5%±8.7Highest ME: 48.4%
	Waterville and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%	20.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 12 yrs older than ME	1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 24% below ME	18 minLowest 27% below ME
Work from home	15.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	16.6%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Waterville 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 133 in ME
School district	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy	Waterville Public Schools
High school in town	Cony	Waterville Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	17.9Highest	12.8Lowest
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.