Compare towns

Manchester vs Augusta vs Winthrop

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Manchester has the oldest population (median age 46.9).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Winthrop has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).

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.

MeasureManchesterAugustaWinthrop
People
Population
2,424Lowest
19,077Highest
6,191
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-1.2%
ME: +2.6%
+0.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
46.9±4.6Highest
5% above ME
42.5±2.4Lowest
5% below ME
43.6±5.3
about the ME average
Manchester and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±4.7
ME: 18.1%
18.9%±2.6Lowest
ME: 18.1%
22.9%±5.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
Winthrop and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±4.1
ME: 22.4%
21.5%±2.6Lowest
ME: 22.4%
23.4%±5Highest
ME: 22.4%
Winthrop and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
28.9%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
40%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.6Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.6%±1.1Highest
ME: 5.8%
3.5%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
Augusta and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$92,031±$16kHighest
23% above ME
$47,979±$3kLowest
36% below ME
$86,470±$4k
16% above ME
Manchester and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$299,600±$40kHighest
about the ME average
$201,000±$18kLowest
32% below ME
$294,800±$41k
about the ME average
Manchester and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$993±$116Highest
13% below ME
$919±$79
19% below ME
$892±$319Lowest
22% below ME
Manchester and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,486
15% above ME
$2,465Lowest
19% below ME
$3,506Highest
15% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.9%±18.6Lowest
ME: 48.4%
49.2%±8.3
ME: 48.4%
50.8%±22.4Highest
ME: 48.4%
Winthrop and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.5%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
18.2%Highest
ME: 10.7%
12.9%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85%
ME: 74.3%
53.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
92.5%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
same as ME
1965Lowest
12 yrs older than ME
1977Highest
same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
19% below ME
19 minLowest
24% below ME
35 minHighest
41% above ME
Work from home
11.9%±5.7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
15.1%±3.7
ME: 15.9%
23.1%±6.7Highest
ME: 15.9%
Winthrop 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 — #119 of 133 in ME #12 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 38 Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy Winthrop Public Schools
High school in town None in town Cony Winthrop High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
17.9Highest
11.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.