Compare towns

Cavendish vs Augusta vs Reading

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cavendish has the highest household income ($89k).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

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.

MeasureCavendishAugustaReading
People
Population
1,242
19,077Highest
699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.2±5.9
16% above U.S.
42.5±2.4Lowest
9% above U.S.
51.1±7.6Highest
31% above U.S.
Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.3%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
Augusta and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.6%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
21.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cavendish and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$89,063±$29kHighest
10% above U.S.
$47,979±$3kLowest
41% below U.S.
$85,000±$19k
5% above U.S.
Cavendish and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$285,100±$40k
14% below U.S.
$201,000±$18kLowest
40% below U.S.
$377,200±$72kHighest
13% above U.S.
Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,000±$546
29% below U.S.
$919±$79Lowest
35% below U.S.
$1,100±$331Highest
22% below U.S.
Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,948
27% above U.S.
$2,465Lowest
21% below U.S.
$5,754Highest
84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.9%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.2%±8.3
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±31.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Reading and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
53.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1969Highest
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
19 min
29% below U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
18.5%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Reading and Cavendish 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 Green Mountain Unified School District #77 Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
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 18 photos → 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.