Compare towns
Bangor vs Putney 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).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k median).
Augusta has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).
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 | Putney | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 31,938Highest |
2,622Lowest |
19,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±1.3 5% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
42.5±2.4Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Augusta and Bangor 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Augusta and Bangor 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Augusta and Bangor 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% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,942±$7k 26% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Putney and Bangor 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. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,055±$43Highest 25% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$919±$79 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,076 about the U.S. average |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney 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% |
16%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
19 minHighest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | Bangor High School | 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 |
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.