Compare towns
Bangor vs Berlin vs Middlesex vs Augusta
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bangor has the most renters (52.8% rent).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
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 | Bangor | Berlin | Middlesex | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 31,938Highest |
2,880 |
1,943Lowest |
19,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±1.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,942±$7k 26% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,600±$10k 34% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,055±$43 25% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,076 about the U.S. average |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3 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 | 17.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
19 min 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Augusta 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 | #37 of 133 in ME | #16 of 70 in VT | — | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | Bangor High School | None in town | None in town | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3Lowest |
— | — | 17.9Highest |
| 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.