Compare towns

Bangor vs Jericho vs Augusta vs Waterville

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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Jericho has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
Waterville has the youngest population (median age 35.5).

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.

MeasureBangorJerichoAugustaWaterville
People
Population
31,938Highest
5,114Lowest
19,077
17,077
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41±1.3
5% above U.S.
49.7±5.1Highest
28% above U.S.
42.5±2.4
9% above U.S.
35.5±2.5Lowest
9% below U.S.
Jericho and Augusta 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%
19.5%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Jericho and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.9%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
20.2%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
21.5%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Augusta and Jericho 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%
65.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.4%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
18.1%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$59,942±$7k
26% below U.S.
$116,923±$16kHighest
45% above U.S.
$47,979±$3kLowest
41% below U.S.
$53,580±$4k
34% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$219,600±$10k
34% below U.S.
$493,100±$38kHighest
48% above U.S.
$201,000±$18k
40% below U.S.
$184,600±$21kLowest
45% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,055±$43
25% below U.S.
$1,731±$111Highest
23% above U.S.
$919±$79Lowest
35% below U.S.
$978±$72
31% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,076
about the U.S. average
$7,318Highest
135% above U.S.
$2,465Lowest
21% below U.S.
$2,755
12% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.5%±6.5
U.S.: 51.1%
79.3%±52.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.2%±8.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.5%±8.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Jericho 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%
0.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
20.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
47.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
53.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
48.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1959
21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
37% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
19 min
29% below U.S.
18 min
32% below U.S.
Work from home
10.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
16.6%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Jericho and Waterville 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 #6 of 70 in VT #119 of 133 in ME #105 of 133 in ME
School district Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy Waterville Public Schools
High school in town Bangor High School Mt. Mansfield Union High School Cony Waterville Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.3
13.0
17.9Highest
12.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.