Compare towns
Bangor vs Exeter vs Newfields 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Exeter | Newfields | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 31,938Highest |
16,151 |
2,023Lowest |
19,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±1.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bangor and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,942±$7k 26% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,600±$10k 34% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,055±$43 25% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Bangor 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%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. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 min 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | Bangor High School | Exeter High School | None in town | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3 |
12.1Lowest |
— | 17.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.