What stands out worked out from the figures below

Oakland has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).

Augusta has the most people working from home (15.1%).

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	Oakland	Augusta
People
Population	6,309Lowest	19,077Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME	42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME
	Augusta and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1%	18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Oakland and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Augusta and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	28.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Oakland and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,813±$16kHighest 4% above ME	$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$236,000±$23kHighest 20% below ME	$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME
	Oakland and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$939±$74Highest 18% below ME	$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME
	Oakland and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,439Lowest 20% below ME	$2,465Highest 19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4%	49.2%±8.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Oakland and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%	18.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME	1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 8% above ME	19 minLowest 24% below ME
Work from home	8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Augusta and Oakland 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	#23 of 133 in ME	#119 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 18	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy
High school in town	Messalonskee High School	Cony
Students per teacherat that high school	14.2Lowest	17.9Highest
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.