Compare towns

Manchester vs Ogunquit vs Readfield 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 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.

MeasureManchesterOgunquitReadfieldAugusta
People
Population
2,424
1,379Lowest
2,651
19,077Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
0%
ME: +2.6%
-1.2%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
46.9±4.6
5% above ME
62.8±4.8Highest
40% above ME
48.1±7.6
7% above ME
42.5±2.4Lowest
5% below ME
Kids under 18
19%±4.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
18.7%±3.9
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%
43.6%±10.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
22.3%±4.5
ME: 22.4%
21.5%±2.6Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47.5%
ME: 36.2%
63.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
48.8%
ME: 36.2%
28.9%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.6Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
3.3%±2
ME: 5.8%
3.6%±1.1
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
$86,504±$8k
16% above ME
$47,979±$3kLowest
36% below 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
$326,400±$20k
10% above ME
$201,000±$18kLowest
32% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$993±$116
13% below ME
—
$1,125±$844Highest
about the ME average
$919±$79Lowest
19% below ME
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
$3,392
12% above ME
$2,465Lowest
19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.9%±18.6
ME: 48.4%
0%±61.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
31.3%±100
ME: 48.4%
49.2%±8.3Highest
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%
5%
ME: 10.7%
18.2%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85%
ME: 74.3%
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
89.9%
ME: 74.3%
53.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
same as ME
1978
1 yr newer than ME
1979Highest
2 yrs newer than ME
1965Lowest
12 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
19% below ME
26 min
7% above ME
30 minHighest
20% above ME
19 minLowest
24% below ME
Work from home
11.9%±5.7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
43.3%±12.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
24.3%±14.9
ME: 15.9%
15.1%±3.7
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 — — #20 of 133 in ME #119 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 38 — RSU 38 Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy
High school in town None in town — Maranacook Community High Sch Cony
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.5Lowest
17.9Highest
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.