Compare towns
Waterville vs Mapleton vs Union 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).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Augusta has the oldest population (median age 42.5).
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 | Mapleton | Union | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,077 |
1,884Lowest |
2,663 |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 35.5±2.5Lowest 21% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME |
| Augusta and Mapleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Augusta and Union 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,580±$4k 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
| Mapleton and Union 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $978±$72 14% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$919±$79 19% below ME |
| Union 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$2,465 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.5%±8.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 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% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
18.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
53.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1965 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 27% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
19 min 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Waterville and Union 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | Waterville Senior High School | None in town | 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 | 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.