Compare towns
Durham vs Augusta vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the highest household income ($99k).
Augusta has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Franklin has the oldest population (median age 46).
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 | Durham | Augusta | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262 |
19,077Highest |
1,628Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
| Franklin and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Durham and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Franklin and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.9% ME: 36.2% |
28.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$65,455±$16k 12% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$245,800±$59k 17% below ME |
| Durham and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $919±$79Highest 19% below ME |
$888±$306Lowest 22% below ME |
| Augusta and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$2,465 19% below ME |
$2,231Lowest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
76.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Durham 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 | #14 of 133 in ME | #119 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 05 | 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 |
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.