Compare towns
Augusta vs Waterville vs Windham vs Brewer
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%).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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.
| Measure | Augusta | Waterville | Windham | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
17,077 |
16,038 |
9,652Lowest |
| 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% |
+2% 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. |
40.1±4.8 3% 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% |
20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer and Augusta 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% |
35% 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% |
7.7%±2.9 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. |
$66,613±$9k 17% below 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. |
$245,300±$21k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$978±$72 31% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54 23% below 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. |
$3,374 8% 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%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Windham 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% |
12.5% 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% |
59.7% 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. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Waterville Public Schools | Windham School District | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Cony | Waterville Senior High School | Windham High School | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
12.8Lowest |
12.8Lowest |
14.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.