Compare towns
Waterville vs Wayne 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
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 | Wayne | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,077 |
1,101Lowest |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 35.5±2.5Lowest 21% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.8% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,580±$4k 28% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,600±$21kLowest 38% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $978±$72 14% below ME |
$983±$554Highest 14% below ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
| Wayne 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 |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.5%±8.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest 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% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
53.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1965 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 27% below ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
19 min 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Waterville 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 38 | 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.