What stands out worked out from the figures below

Minot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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.

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

Measure	Minot	Augusta
People
Population	2,794Lowest	19,077Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49±6.1Highest 9% above ME	42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME
	Minot and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1%	18.9%±2.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Augusta and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.3%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Augusta and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	28.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Minot and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,655±$17kHighest 28% above ME	$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$294,900±$26kHighest about the ME average	$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$878±$801Lowest 23% below ME	$919±$79Highest 19% below ME
	Augusta and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,602Highest 14% below ME	$2,465Lowest 19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.7%±40.7Lowest ME: 48.4%	49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Augusta and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%	18.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96%Highest ME: 74.3%	53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME	1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest about the ME average	19 minLowest 24% below ME
Work from home	16.8%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9%	15.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Minot 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	#78 of 133 in ME	#119 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 16	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy
High school 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

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.