Compare towns
Augusta vs Westminster vs Bangor
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Bangor has the most renters (52.8% rent).
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 | Westminster | Bangor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077 |
2,999Lowest |
31,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
41±1.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Augusta and Westminster 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$71,491±$4kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$59,942±$7k 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$219,600±$10k 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 35% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,055±$43Highest 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$4,063Highest 30% above U.S. |
$3,076 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bangor 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
47.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 133 in ME | #53 of 70 in VT | #37 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 |
| High school in town | Cony | Bellows Falls Union High School | Bangor High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
10.6Lowest |
13.3 |
| 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.