Compare towns
Lewiston vs Leeds 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
Leeds has the most homeowners (93.8%).
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.
| Measure | Lewiston | Leeds | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 38,324Highest |
2,285Lowest |
19,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.3±1.2Lowest 17% below ME |
38.2±8.3 15% below ME |
42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME |
| Augusta and Leeds 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% |
30.6%±9.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Leeds 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% |
14.8%±2.1Lowest 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% |
23% ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±1Highest ME: 5.8% |
7.4%±3.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lewiston and Leeds are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,393±$4k 26% below ME |
$85,208±$14kHighest 14% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,100±$8k 21% below ME |
$257,800±$27kHighest 13% below ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
| Leeds and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $986±$44Highest 13% below ME |
$940±$461 17% below ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
| Lewiston and Leeds 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 |
$2,565 16% below ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±5.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.1%±11.5Lowest 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% |
19.8% ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
53.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 20 yrs older than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1965 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 15% below ME |
34 minHighest 37% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±2.4 ME: 15.9% |
10%±3.8Lowest 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 | RSU 52/MSAD 52 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | Lewiston High School | None in town | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Lowest |
— | 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.