What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Gardiner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	West Gardiner	Augusta
People
Population	3,696Lowest	19,077Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43.5±2.8Highest about the ME average	42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME
	West Gardiner and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±5.5 ME: 18.1%	18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	17.3%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Augusta and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±5.1Highest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	West Gardiner and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,172±$30kHighest 29% above ME	$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$305,100±$42kHighest about the ME average	$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,087±$150Highest 5% below ME	$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME
	West Gardiner and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,282Lowest 25% below ME	$2,465Highest 19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±9.4Highest ME: 48.4%	49.2%±8.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	West Gardiner and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Lowest ME: 10.7%	18.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME	1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest about the ME average	19 minLowest 24% below ME
Work from home	13.8%±7.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Augusta and West Gardiner 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	#90 of 133 in ME	#119 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 11/MSAD 11	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy
High school in town	None in town	Cony
Students per teacherat that high school	—	17.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.