What stands out worked out from the figures below

Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Methuen	Augusta
People
Population	53,475Highest	19,077Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-1.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average	42.5±2.4Highest 9% above U.S.
	Augusta and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22%	18.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Methuen and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S.	$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S.	$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S.	$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,061Highest 62% above U.S.	$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Augusta and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	19 minLowest 29% below U.S.
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Augusta and Methuen 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	#236 of 282 in MA	#119 of 133 in ME
School district	Methuen	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy
High school in town	Methuen High	Cony
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Lowest	17.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.