Compare towns
Barnet vs Augusta vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Augusta has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).
Bethel has the highest household income ($76k).
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 | Barnet | Augusta | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855 |
19,077Highest |
1,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
50.7±3.7Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Bethel and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnet and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnet and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Augusta and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15k 17% below U.S. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$75,822±$7kHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Bethel and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24kHighest 25% below U.S. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$238,000±$41k 28% below U.S. |
| Barnet and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 31% below U.S. |
$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,335±$220Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 44% above U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$5,168Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Augusta and Barnet 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 | — | #119 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | Cony | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 17.9 |
— |
| 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.