What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Waterville	Augusta
People
Population	17,077Lowest	19,077Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	35.5±2.5Lowest 21% below ME	42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME
Kids under 18	14.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1%	18.9%±2.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Augusta and Waterville 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%	21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Augusta and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,580±$4kHighest 28% below ME	$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME
	Waterville and Augusta 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	$201,000±$18kHighest 32% below ME
	Augusta and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$978±$72Highest 14% below ME	$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME
	Waterville and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,755Highest 9% below ME	$2,465Lowest 19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.5%±8.7Highest ME: 48.4%	49.2%±8.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Waterville and Augusta 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%	18.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	53.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME	1965Highest 12 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 27% below ME	19 minHighest 24% below ME
Work from home	16.6%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9%	15.1%±3.7Lowest 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	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy
High school in town	Waterville Senior High School	Cony
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	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.