Compare towns
Hallowell vs Wells 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 the shortest commute (14 min average).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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.
| Measure | Hallowell | Wells | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,592Lowest |
11,713 |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9% ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.9 12% above ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
| Wells and Hallowell 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% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Augusta and Wells 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% |
31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Hallowell and Wells 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% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Hallowell and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,398±$10k 8% below ME |
$88,024±$11kHighest 18% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
| Wells and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,300±$45k about the ME average |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$175Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$919±$79 19% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867Highest 27% above ME |
$3,215 6% above ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±17.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.3% ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1965 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 43% below ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
19 min 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hallowell and Wells 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 02 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
17.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.