What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waterboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

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	Waterboro	Augusta
People
Population	8,055Lowest	19,077Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42±3.1Lowest 6% below ME	42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME
	Augusta and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.5%±4Highest ME: 18.1%	18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Waterboro and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	28.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Waterboro and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,392±$16kHighest 20% above ME	$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$297,000±$23kHighest about the ME average	$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,200±$461Highest 5% above ME	$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME
	Waterboro and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,772Highest 9% below ME	$2,465Lowest 19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.2%±12.5Highest ME: 48.4%	49.2%±8.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Waterboro and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest ME: 10.7%	18.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 42% above ME	19 minLowest 24% below ME
Work from home	10%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Augusta and Waterboro 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	#80 of 133 in ME	#119 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 57/MSAD 57	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy
High school in town	Massabesic High School	Cony
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Lowest	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.