Compare towns
Manchester vs Ogunquit vs Augusta vs Readfield
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 kids (19% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Augusta | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,424 |
1,379Lowest |
19,077Highest |
2,651 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.9±4.6 5% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.5% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit 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±$16k 23% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,600±$40k about the ME average |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$326,400±$20k 10% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $993±$116 13% below ME |
— | $919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,125±$844Highest about the ME average |
| Readfield and Manchester 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 |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$3,392 12% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±18.6 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 19% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Readfield 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 | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 38 | — | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Cony | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 17.9Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| 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.