What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).

York has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).

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	York
People
Population	19,077Highest	13,986Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME	49.5±5.2Highest 10% above ME
	York and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	21.1%±3.3Highest ME: 18.1%
	York 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 ME: 22.4%	27.9%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	53.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%	2.5%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Augusta and York 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 36% below ME	$121,250±$25kHighest 62% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME	$636,400±$30kHighest 115% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME	$1,490±$336Highest 31% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,465Lowest 19% below ME	$4,658Highest 53% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±8.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	56.5%±10.8Highest ME: 48.4%
	York 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 ME: 10.7%	5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	81.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME	1977Highest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 24% below ME	24 minHighest 4% below ME
Work from home	15.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	26%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#119 of 133 in ME	#13 of 133 in ME
School district	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy	York Public Schools
High school in town	Cony	York High School
Students per teacherat that high school	17.9Highest	9.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.