Compare towns

Augusta vs Waterville vs Windham

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 oldest population (median age 42.5).
Waterville has the youngest population (median age 35.5).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).

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.

MeasureAugustaWatervilleWindham
People
Population
19,077Highest
17,077
16,038Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.5±2.4Highest
9% above U.S.
35.5±2.5Lowest
9% below U.S.
41.1±2.9
6% above U.S.
Augusta and Windham 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%
14.4%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
21.5%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
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
U.S.: 35.7%
30.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
18.1%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$47,979±$3kLowest
41% below U.S.
$53,580±$4k
34% below U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$201,000±$18k
40% below U.S.
$184,600±$21kLowest
45% below U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$919±$79Lowest
35% below U.S.
$978±$72
31% below U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,465Lowest
21% below U.S.
$2,755
12% below U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.2%±8.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.5%±8.7
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
18.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
20.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
48.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
29% below U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
15.1%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.6%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham and Waterville 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 #13 of 120 in NH
School district Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy Waterville Public Schools Windham School District
High school in town Cony Waterville Senior High School Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
17.9Highest
12.8Lowest
12.8Lowest
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.