What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

Augusta has the most people working from home (15.1%).

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	Fall River	Augusta
People
Population	94,082Highest	19,077Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.2Lowest about the U.S. average	42.5±2.4Highest 9% above U.S.
	Augusta and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 22%	18.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Fall River and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Fall River and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,673±$3kHighest 30% below U.S.	$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$395,500±$11kHighest 19% above U.S.	$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,155±$27Highest 18% below U.S.	$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,953Highest 27% above U.S.	$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fall River and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	18.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	35.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	53.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S.	1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	19 minLowest 29% below U.S.
Work from home	7.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#262 of 282 in MA	#119 of 133 in ME
School district	Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy
High school in town	B M C Durfee High	Cony
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	17.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.