What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

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	Townsend	Augusta
People
Population	9,100Lowest	19,077Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S.	42.5±2.4Highest 9% above U.S.
	Augusta and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	18.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Townsend and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Augusta and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Townsend and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.	$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S.	$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S.	$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Highest 93% above U.S.	$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townsend and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.	19 minLowest 29% below U.S.
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Augusta and Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA	#119 of 133 in ME
School district	North Middlesex	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	Cony
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Lowest	17.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.