Compare towns
Manchester vs Mapleton 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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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.
| Measure | Manchester | Mapleton | Augusta | Winthrop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,424 |
1,884Lowest |
19,077Highest |
6,191 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
+0.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.9±4.6Highest 5% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
42.5±2.4 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Winthrop and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 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% |
34.3% 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% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$86,470±$4k 16% above ME |
| Manchester and Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$201,000±$18k 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$919±$79 19% below ME |
$892±$319 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,465 19% below ME |
$3,506Highest 15% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±18.6 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest same as ME |
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 |
28 min 13% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Winthrop Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.