Compare towns
Waterville vs Oakland vs Bangor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Oakland has the most kids (29.1% under 18).
Bangor has the most expensive homes ($220k 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.
| Measure | Waterville | Oakland | Bangor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,077 |
2,710Lowest |
31,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.5% ME: +2.6% |
-3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 35.5±2.5 21% below ME |
32.6±5.5Lowest 27% below ME |
41±1.3Highest 8% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
29.1%±8Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±1.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
14.5%±3.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.9%±1.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bangor 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% ME: 36.2% |
20.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
35.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
10.4%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,580±$4k 28% below ME |
$44,848±$19kLowest 40% below ME |
$59,942±$7kHighest 20% below ME |
| Bangor 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±$21k 38% below ME |
$167,000±$65kLowest 44% below ME |
$219,600±$10kHighest 26% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $978±$72 14% below ME |
$956±$119Lowest 16% below ME |
$1,055±$43Highest 7% below ME |
| Bangor 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 |
$2,149Lowest 29% below ME |
$3,076Highest about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.5%±8.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
58.6%±24.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
51.5%±6.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Oakland and Bangor 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% |
13.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.8% ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
47.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 18 yrs older than ME |
1974Highest 3 yrs older than ME |
1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 27% below ME |
19 minHighest 22% below ME |
17 minLowest 33% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.2%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±2.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Waterville and Bangor 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 | #23 of 133 in ME | #37 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Waterville Public Schools | — | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 |
| High school in town | Waterville Senior High School | — | Bangor High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 13.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.