What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

Augusta has the shortest commute (19 min average).

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	Rochester	Augusta
People
Population	33,144Highest	19,077Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S.	42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Rochester and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Augusta and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Augusta and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rochester and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,836±$3kHighest about the U.S. average	$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$279,100±$10kHighest 16% below U.S.	$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,369±$72Highest 3% below U.S.	$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,334Highest 71% above U.S.	$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Augusta and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	19 minLowest 29% below U.S.
Work from home	11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Augusta and Rochester 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	#98 of 120 in NH	#119 of 133 in ME
School district	Rochester School District	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy
High school in town	Spaulding High School	Cony
Students per teacherat that high school	13.2Lowest	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.