Compare towns
Waterville vs Randolph vs Augusta
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Randolph has the highest household income ($77k).
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 | Randolph | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,077 |
4,843Lowest |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.5±2.5Lowest 9% below U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Augusta and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Augusta and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,580±$4k 34% below U.S. |
$76,758±$6kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,600±$21kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$201,000±$18k 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $978±$72 31% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S. |
$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,755 12% below U.S. |
$4,698Highest 51% above U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.5%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Randolph 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 22% below U.S. |
19 min 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Waterville Public Schools | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | Waterville Senior High School | Randolph Union High School | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
9.4Lowest |
17.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.