Compare towns
Hallowell vs Strong vs Augusta
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hallowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
Strong has the most homeowners (84.6%).
Augusta has the youngest population (median age 42.5).
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 | Hallowell | Strong | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,592 |
1,249Lowest |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.9Highest 12% above ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
| Hallowell and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Hallowell and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Hallowell and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,398±$10kHighest 8% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$47,979±$3k 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,300±$45kHighest about the ME average |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$175Lowest 22% below ME |
$920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
$919±$79 19% below ME |
| Strong and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867Highest 27% above ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
$2,465 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±17.9 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.3% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
1971Highest 6 yrs older than ME |
1965 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 43% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
19 min 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hallowell and Strong 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 | RSU 02 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | None 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.