Compare towns

Braintree vs Augusta vs Bridgewater

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
Augusta has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).
Bridgewater has the most homeowners (85.4%).

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.

MeasureBraintreeAugustaBridgewater
People
Population
1,026
19,077Highest
980Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
58.4±2.4Highest
50% above U.S.
42.5±2.4Lowest
9% above U.S.
57.1±8
47% above U.S.
Braintree and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.3%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
Augusta and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
33.2%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.2%±0.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Braintree and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bridgewater and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,803±$5kHighest
about the U.S. average
$47,979±$3kLowest
41% below U.S.
$70,272±$3k
13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$217,700±$28k
35% below U.S.
$201,000±$18kLowest
40% below U.S.
$218,300±$55kHighest
34% below U.S.
Bridgewater and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$840±$405Lowest
41% below U.S.
$919±$79Highest
35% below U.S.
$850±$778
40% below U.S.
Augusta and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,908Highest
25% above U.S.
$2,465Lowest
21% below U.S.
$3,418
10% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.4%±29.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.2%±8.3
U.S.: 51.1%
59.7%±39.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bridgewater and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81%
U.S.: 65.2%
53.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
Work from home
19%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±6.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Braintree 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 — #119 of 133 in ME —
School district Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy —
High school in town None in town Cony —
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.