Compare towns
Waterville vs Appleton vs Augusta
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the youngest population (median age 35.5).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Augusta has the most kids (18.9% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Waterville | Appleton | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,077 |
1,360Lowest |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 35.5±2.5Lowest 21% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
| Appleton and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Augusta and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,580±$4k 28% below ME |
$53,618±$19kHighest 28% below ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
| Appleton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,600±$21kLowest 38% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
| Appleton and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $978±$72 14% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
| Appleton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,755 9% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.5%±8.7 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
53.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1965 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 27% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
19 min 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Waterville and Augusta 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 | #105 of 133 in ME | — | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Waterville Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | Waterville Senior High School | None in town | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 17.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.