Compare towns
Lewiston vs Hampden vs Augusta
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lewiston has the youngest population (median age 37.3).
Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
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 | Lewiston | Hampden | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 38,324Highest |
7,896Lowest |
19,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.3±1.2Lowest 17% below ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME |
| Augusta and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±1.5 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest 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% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±1Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,393±$4k 26% below ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,100±$8k 21% below ME |
$301,300±$38kHighest about the ME average |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $986±$44 13% below ME |
$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
| Hampden and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,899 5% below ME |
$3,694Highest 22% above ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±5.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 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% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
53.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 20 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1965 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 15% below ME |
23 minHighest 7% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden 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 | #132 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy | RSU 22 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | Lewiston High School | Hampden Academy | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Lowest |
14.8 |
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.