Compare towns
Manchester vs Hallowell vs Augusta
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 most homeowners (85%).
Hallowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
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 | Manchester | Hallowell | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,424Lowest |
2,592 |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.9±4.6 5% above ME |
50.3±7.9Highest 12% above ME |
42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
| Hallowell and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Manchester and Augusta 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% |
33.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Hallowell 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% ME: 36.2% |
52.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Hallowell and Augusta 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 |
$68,398±$10k 8% below ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
| Manchester and Hallowell 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 |
$295,300±$45k about the ME average |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
| Manchester and Hallowell 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 |
$890±$175Lowest 22% below ME |
$919±$79 19% 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 |
$3,867Highest 27% above ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±18.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±17.9 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Hallowell 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% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest ME: 74.3% |
58.3% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest same as ME |
1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
1965 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 19% below ME |
14 minLowest 43% below ME |
19 min 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Hallowell 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 |
| School district | RSU 38 | RSU 02 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 17.9 |
| 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.