Compare towns
Augusta vs Wilder vs Manchester
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 most affordable homes ($201k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Manchester has the most homeowners (85%).
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 | Wilder | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
3,087 |
2,424Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
46.9±4.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Manchester and Wilder 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Manchester and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Manchester 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% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder 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 41% below U.S. |
$75,143±$9k 7% below U.S. |
$92,031±$16kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Manchester and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$299,600±$40kHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Manchester and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451Highest 19% below U.S. |
$993±$116 30% below U.S. |
| Wilder and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$5,505Highest 76% above U.S. |
$3,486 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.9%±18.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Wilder 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% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
20 minHighest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Augusta and Wilder 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 | — | — |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | — | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Cony | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.