Compare towns
Buxton vs Augusta vs New Gloucester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buxton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
New Gloucester has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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 | Buxton | Augusta | New Gloucester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,512 |
19,077Highest |
5,766Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest about the ME average |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
40.1±5.5Lowest 10% below ME |
| Buxton and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| New Gloucester and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Augusta and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Buxton and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,144±$21k 34% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$108,797±$12kHighest 46% above ME |
| New Gloucester and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,800±$21k 20% above ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$357,100±$29kHighest 20% above ME |
| New Gloucester and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,613±$266Highest 42% above ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,150±$249 about the ME average |
| Buxton and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Highest 13% above ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$3,417 13% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.7%±12Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Augusta and New Gloucester 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 | #104 of 133 in ME | #119 of 133 in ME | #65 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 15/MSAD 15 |
| 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 |
ME 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.