What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lewiston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).

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	Lewiston	Augusta
People
Population	38,324Highest	19,077Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	37.3±1.2Lowest 17% below ME	42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME
Kids under 18	20.6%±1.5Highest ME: 18.1%	18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Lewiston and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Augusta and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	28.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.1%±1Highest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$55,393±$4kHighest 26% below ME	$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME
	Lewiston and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$235,100±$8kHighest 21% below ME	$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$986±$44Highest 13% below ME	$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME
	Lewiston and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,899Highest 5% below ME	$2,465Lowest 19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±5.9Highest ME: 48.4%	49.2%±8.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Lewiston and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20%Highest ME: 10.7%	18.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	53.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 20 yrs older than ME	1965Highest 12 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 15% below ME	19 minLowest 24% below ME
Work from home	12.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Augusta and Lewiston 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	#132 of 133 in ME	#119 of 133 in ME
School district	Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy
High school in town	Lewiston High School	Cony
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Lowest	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.