What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.5%).

Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Cumberland	Augusta
People
Population	8,647Lowest	19,077Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.9±4Lowest 6% below ME	42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME
	Augusta and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.6%±3.7Highest ME: 18.1%	18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	19.8%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Augusta and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	72.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Cumberland and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$173,894±$20kHighest 133% above ME	$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$616,800±$42kHighest 108% above ME	$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,143±$759Highest 88% above ME	$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,116Highest 134% above ME	$2,465Lowest 19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.1%±31.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Augusta and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%	18.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME	1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest about the ME average	19 minLowest 24% below ME
Work from home	25.3%±7Highest ME: 15.9%	15.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Cumberland 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	#25 of 133 in ME	#119 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 51/MSAD 51	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy
High school in town	Greely High School	Cony
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Lowest	17.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.