What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sullivan has the most homeowners (85.2%).

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	Sullivan	Augusta
People
Population	1,246Lowest	19,077Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-1.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	47.1±15Highest 5% above ME	42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME
	Sullivan and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±5.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	18.9%±2.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Augusta and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.5%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4%	21.5%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Sullivan and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26%Lowest ME: 36.2%	28.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Sullivan and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,643±$14kHighest 20% below ME	$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME
	Sullivan and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$222,000±$33kHighest 25% below ME	$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME
	Sullivan and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$883±$114Lowest 22% below ME	$919±$79Highest 19% below ME
	Augusta and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,228Lowest 27% below ME	$2,465Highest 19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±23.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Augusta and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%	18.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME	1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 7% above ME	19 minLowest 24% below ME
Work from home	12.6%±7.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Augusta and Sullivan 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	—	#119 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 24	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy
High school in town	Sumner Memorial High School	Cony
Students per teacherat that high school	10.5Lowest	17.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.