Compare towns
Waterville vs Wayne vs Augusta vs Biddeford
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 most affordable homes ($185k median).
Wayne has the most homeowners (89.9%).
Augusta has the most kids (18.9% under 18).
Biddeford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,077 |
1,101Lowest |
19,077 |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
+6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 35.5±2.5 21% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
35±2.6Lowest 22% 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% |
15.6%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Augusta and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest 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% |
32.1% 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% |
11%±1.6 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 |
$72,333±$4k 3% below ME |
| Wayne and Biddeford 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 |
$362,800±$29k 22% above ME |
$201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
$396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME |
| Biddeford and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $978±$72 14% below ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME |
| Biddeford and Wayne 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 |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$4,401Highest 45% above 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% |
37.2%±6 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% |
15.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.8% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
53.8% ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 18 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1952Lowest 25 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 |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest 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 | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Waterville Public Schools | RSU 38 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | Waterville Senior High School | None in town | Cony | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 17.9Highest |
14.1 |
| 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.