Augusta, ME

Census place 2302100 · pop 19,077

D51/ 100
😐 Meh
D−
in ME
📍 Maine ranks #13 of 50 states →
🏆 Air35 AQI · top 11%
🚽 Income$47,979 · bottom 10%
Taxes
1.23% property · US 0.99%5.50% sales · US 7.00%up to 7.15% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Median household income$47,97910

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$47,979 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Adult smoking17.5%16

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

17.5% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Poor mental health19.2%19

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

19.2% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Property crime rate2364/100k21

U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities

2364 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Broadband access87.3%22

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

87.3% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Homeownership53.8%22

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

53.8% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Poverty rate18.2%22

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

18.2% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Income inequality0.4724

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.47 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Physical inactivity27.7%36

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

27.7% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Property-tax burden1.23%38

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

1.23% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Bachelor's degree or higher28.9%47

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

28.9% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population growth (5yr)+2.5%48

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

+2.5% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Uninsured adults9.3%52

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

9.3% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Adult obesity34.4%53

U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities

34.4% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Violent crime rate147/100k61

U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities

147 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Rent$1,545/mo65

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,545/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Natural disaster riskCounty-level78/10067

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

78/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Housing cost$201,00071

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$201,000 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Unemployment rateCounty-level3.1%75

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

3.1% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Commute time19 min83

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

19 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level0 days85

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Air quality (AQI)County-level35 AQI89

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

35 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Frequently asked

Is Augusta, ME a good place to live?
By the numbers, Augusta scores 51/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is air quality (aqi) and its weakest is median household income. Maine overall ranks #13 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Augusta, ME?
Augusta reports 147 violent crimes per 100k and 2364 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Augusta, ME expensive to live in?
Augusta has a median home value of $201,000 and typical rent around $1,545/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Augusta, ME?
Its weakest measured area is median household income ($47,979) — 10/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Augusta, ME best at?
Its strongest measured area is air quality (aqi) (35 AQI) — 89/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.