Compare towns
Lewiston vs Middlesex vs Augusta vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lewiston has the youngest population (median age 37.3).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Middlesex | Augusta | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 38,324Highest |
1,943Lowest |
19,077 |
4,262 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.3±1.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±1.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Augusta and Middlesex 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,393±$4k 31% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$99,181±$5k 23% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,100±$8k 29% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $986±$44 30% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
— |
| Middlesex and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,899 7% below U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$3,781 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±40.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Durham 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 | #14 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Lewiston High School | None in town | Cony | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Lowest |
— | 17.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.