Augusta grades D− overall, 140th of 142 graded towns in Maine, mostly because of safety and schools. Its police reported 42 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025, a higher rate per resident than 90% of U.S. towns. Its schools rank behind 88% of the state's. In its favor, it is more walkable than 80% of U.S. towns. History is its standout character grade: an A+, better than 99% of U.S. towns, with 43 places on the National Register. 45% of working residents work locally in Augusta, above both the Maine town median (12%) and the median of U.S. towns (8%). Its National Register listings include James G. Blaine House and Fort Western. Among 143 Maine towns, just 2 have a lower median household income than Augusta.

StrongestA⁺History A⁻Civic life A⁻WalkabilityWeakestDSafety DSchools C⁻Jobs & income CHealth

What makes Augusta stand out

Where Augusta beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.

James G. Blaine House

HistoryA⁺

Settled in 1628

A history going back 398 years.

Jobs vs. working residents

Jobs here28,316

Residents who work8,340

Work

3.4 jobs for every working resident

A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 98% of U.S. towns

Census LEHD 2023.

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Augusta2.2

Maine1

U.S.3.3

Worth knowing · SafetyD

2.2 times the violent crime than ME

FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.

James G. Blaine House · National Register of Historic Places

Augusta’s story

398 years in pictures

James G. Blaine House is one of 3 National Historic Landmarks here, the National Register’s top tier. Its founding year, 1628, comes before those of 96% of the Maine towns we grade with a known year.

Census counts: 1,211 in 1800, 18,899 in 2020. The archive holds 21 old photos and papers going back to 1754 and 5 maps from 1892 on.

43 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

1628Augusta is settled

Explore the history →

How Augusta grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Maine), ordered by how far Augusta is from typical.

How grading works

SafetyDOpen →SchoolsDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.2 of 20; 13.6% of households have no car; 4.5% of workers walk, bike or ride transitA⁻Open →Jobs & income$48K median household incomeC⁻Open →HealthMaine General Medical Center 1.3 miles awayCOpen →Cost of livingC⁺Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 44% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB⁻Open →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

Outdoors14% conserved landA⁻Open →History28 notable people born hereA⁺Open →Civic life4.7 library visits per resident; 12.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA⁻Open →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

ClimateSnowy winters, 80° summer afternoons, 69″ of snow–Open →Housing market34 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 42.5–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Getting set up

Moving to Augusta: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Augusta, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerCentral Maine Power27.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterGreater Augusta Utility DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet7 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpBy addressTown pickup · day by addressTown site

SchoolsAugustaWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn Maine you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 21 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereAugusta Town ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Oct 2026

ZIP code0433004330 100%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Augusta.

Augusta draws workers from Waterville and beyond and is healthier than towns with similar incomes, but it reports violent crime at about twice the Maine rate.

OutdoorsA⁻

Conserved land covers 14.2% of Augusta

55 miles of trail in 26 parks and preserves. The trail density in Augusta is 1.0 miles per square mile. The biggest place to walk is Bond Brook Recreation Area, 240 acres with 5 miles of trail.

#38for trails in ME

14.2%

conserved · 5,240 of 36,898 acres

55 mi

of trails · 1 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Bond Brook Recreation Area	5 mi	240
2. Augusta Nature Education Center	4.1 mi	93
3. Howard Hill Conservation Area	2.7 mi	159

Full pageAugusta’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map55 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk5 miles of trail · Bond Brook Recreation Area Conserved land14.2% conserved · 5,240 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Augusta?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

SchoolsD

Augusta earns a D for schools

Its public schools are run by the Augusta Public Schools. Three of its 11 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

12%of ME districts it outscoresDSchool Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
Cony Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 7–8	Grades 7–8	321	D
ConyLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	662	C⁺
Maine Arts Academy SchoolTop results in townGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	245	A

Full pageAugusta’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsAugusta Public Schools Vs. the neighborsBehind its 5 graded neighbors Every school11 schools · Farrington School Questions“Are Augusta’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within ME on state tests and graduation

Work & commuteJobs & income grade C⁻

About half of working residents work right in Augusta

28,316 jobs are based in Augusta, 3.4 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in.

18% of Augusta residents live below the poverty line. Jobs based in Augusta grew to 28,316 in 2023, 2,676 more than in 2013. Augusta’s average trip to work is 19 minutes.

45%work in town

	Augusta	Maine towns	U.S. towns
Below the poverty line	18%	9%	9.6%
Average trip to work	19 minutes	25 minutes	25 minutes
Work from home	15%	14%	11%

Where working residents work

In Augusta45%

Waterville4%

Chelsea3%

Portland3%

Lewiston3%

6 mi

median commute distance

28,316

jobs based in Augusta

A job hub

jobs vs. working residents

A−

Walkability grade: more walkable than 80% of U.S. towns

Full pageAugusta’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here28,316 jobs based here · A job hub Where people work45% work in Augusta Commute times19 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 6 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

SafetyD

Augusta stands out in Maine and nationally, with property crime higher than most

Violent crime runs at 2.2 per 1,000 residents, about twice the Maine rate; the Safety Grade counts each violent crime four times, so this weighs most on its D. Property crime runs at 34.7 per 1,000 residents, 4 times the Maine rate, most of it theft.

Only 2 of the 79 Maine towns we compare have a higher property crime rate than Augusta. Augusta reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 90% report less. Only 7 of the 79 Maine towns we compare have a higher violent crime rate than Augusta.

10%of U.S. towns report more crimeDSafety Grade

	Augusta	Maine towns	U.S. towns
Property crimes per 1,000 (2025)	34.7 per 1,000 residents	7.4	9.9
Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025)	2.2 per 1,000 residents	0.5	1.6

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Augusta2.2

Maine1

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Augusta34.7

Maine9.6

U.S.15.5

10th

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

violent crimes reported in 2025

668

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageAugusta’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type2.2 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsDown since 2023 Vs. the neighborsBehind its graded neighbor Questions“Is Augusta, ME safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

HousingCost of living grade C⁺

Homes in Augusta are worth about $277K, by Zillow’s estimate

Its typical home is the least expensive on its borders; Chelsea is next at $329K.

The typical Augusta home is worth about $277,000, about the same as a year ago, 33% below the Maine typical home. 54% of households own their home in Augusta.

$277KZillow home value

	Augusta	Maine towns	U.S. towns
Households that own their home	54%	81%	73%
Median rent	$919 a month	$1,108 a month	$1,185 a month

Typical home value

Augusta$277K

Maine$412K

Market temperature

days on market

99.8%

sale-to-list price

+0.4%

value change, 1 year

homes sold in May

Full pageAugusta’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsAbout the same as a year ago Years of income to buyA typical home costs 5.8 years of income Rents$919 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighborsAhead of 3 of its 5 graded neighbors

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

HealthC

Health in Augusta trails 73% of U.S. towns

Against the 5,009 U.S. towns with household incomes like Augusta’s, it is healthier than 65%, so its C isn’t only a matter of income.

Augusta beats the Maine average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 14.

27%healthier than U.S. townsCHealth Grade

	Augusta	Maine towns	U.S. towns
Depression (CDC PLACES)	29%	27%	23%
Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES)	16%	14%	14%
Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES)	18%	15%	14%
Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES)	23%	19%	19%

32 measures vs. Maine

1 better17 too close to call14 worse

What stands out	Augusta	ME
Fewer binge drinkers	12.4%	15.5%
More older adults who have lost all their teeth	20.1%	14.8%

Maine General Medical Center

1.3 mi away · emergency room

None

primary care, dental or mental-health shortage

16th

percentile among ME towns

Full pageAugusta’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore smokers Hospitals & doctors nearby1.3 miles to an ER · Maine General Medical Center How adults are doingMore adults in fair or poor health Every CDC estimateBetter than ME on 1 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Climate

In Augusta, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers

The Gardiner weather station, 8 miles away, records that 69 inches of snow fall in a normal winter: more than most of the country, but less than 81% of Maine places with climate records. July afternoons average 79.5°: cooler than most of the country, but hotter than 81% of Maine places with climate records; January nights average 10°.

Augusta has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers.

69″snow a winter

	Augusta	Maine towns	U.S. towns
January low	10°F	10°F	22°F
July high	80°F	79°F	85°F

Typical low → high °F

Winter13–32°

Spring32–53°

Summer56–77°

Fall39–58°

Oct 16

typical first frost

Apr 27

typical last frost

+1.8°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageAugusta’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 80°, January lows 10°Rain & snow69″ of snow a winter · 45 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+1.8° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Who lives here

An age mix much like Maine’s

Only 53.8% of households own their home, against 74.3% across Maine.

No broad age group is more than 4 points off the Maine average. 29% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 36% across Maine.

42.5median age · ME 44.8

	Augusta	Maine towns	U.S. towns
Under 18	19%	18%	22%
Median age	42.5 years	45 years	40.5 years
Aged 65 or older	22%	22%	18%

AugustaMaineUnited States

MEU.S.

Ages · share of residents

15%

Education · adults 25 and older

No diploma6%

High school35%

Some college21%

Associate’s9%

Bachelor’s19%

Graduate10%

Women and men · all residents

56% women, 44% men

About 78 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±2.4 points). Across Maine, 50.7% of residents are women.

Ages and education in Augusta
	Augusta	ME	U.S.
Under 10	11.3%	9.5%	11.6%
10 to 17	7.6%	8.5%	10.3%
18 to 24	6.8%	8%	9.1%
25 to 34	14.9%	12%	13.7%
35 to 44	13.3%	12.2%	13.2%
45 to 54	10.8%	12.2%	12.2%
55 to 64	13.9%	15.1%	12.7%
65 to 74	11.5%	13.4%	10.2%
75 and older	10%	8.9%	7%
No diploma	5.8%	5.2%	10.4%
High school	34.9%	30.1%	26%
Some college	21.4%	18.1%	19.1%
Associate’s	9%	10.4%	8.8%
Bachelor’s	18.8%	22.5%	21.6%
Graduate	10.1%	13.7%	14.1%

Full pageAugusta by the numbersOpen the page

Ages42.5 median age · 22% are 65 or older Schooling29% have a four-year degree Homes54% own their home · Homeowners Income$48K a year · Median household income

U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B⁻

Moderate risk in Augusta, with inland flooding at the top

Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 56% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 94 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Augusta.

44risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingHurricanesIce storms

paid flood claims since 1978

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageAugusta’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesModerate risk Flood claims94 paid flood claims · Since 1978 Past disasters8 federal disasters · Paid out in Augusta Get ready2.6 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Nearby attractions

Maine State Museum and 16 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Augusta. Close and well known come first.

All 40 attractions →

in town MuseumMaine State Museum

36 mi LighthousePemaquid Point Light

32 mi GardenCoastal Maine Botanical Gardens

35 mi MuseumFarnsworth Art Museum

24 mi National MonumentFrances Perkins National Monument

in town GardenViles Arboretum

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

Maine State Museum: Stilfehler, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Pemaquid Point Light: WestportWiki, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens: CMBG editor, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Farnsworth Art Museum: Panoramio user MementoMori, CC BY 3.0 · Frances Perkins National Monument: Robert Reed, NPS employee (per the same source), Public domain · Viles Arboretum: eddie welker from Laurel, MD, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Augusta

20pages on Augusta

The big questions

SchoolsDBehind 88% of ME districts · 11 schools SafetyD2.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthCBetter than ME on 1 of 32 CDC measures Cost of livingC⁺$277K typical home · up 0.4% in a year Work & commuteC⁻$48K median household income · 28,316 jobs here Natural hazardsB⁻FEMA risk higher than 44% of U.S. communities · inland flooding

Out and about

OutdoorsA⁻55 mi of trails · 14% conserved land PlacesAttractions40 nearby · Maine State Museum under 1 mi LibraryA⁻4.7 library visits per resident CollegesUniversity of Maine at Augusta, in town

The story

HistoryA⁺Settled 1628 · 43 on the National Register Famous people28 born in Augusta Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 27 residents Climate80° summer highs · 69″ of snow

Day to day

News3 recent stories about Augusta WeatherHandbookZIP code 04330, 04332, 04333 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

2 within 15 miles of the center of Augusta

University of Maine at AugustaUniversity or college · Public · AugustaIn town$8,888 in-state tuition Thomas CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Waterville13.6 mi$31,824 tuition

About 4 of every 100 Augusta residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Maine.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

College town

University of Maine at Augusta calls Augusta home

University of Maine at Augusta1,707 students on campus

Admission: Open
Net price: $10,924
Graduate: 27%

College Scorecard · IPEDS

Landmarks

43 places in Augusta on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

James G. Blaine HouseNational Historic Landmark

Fort WesternBuilt 1754 · National Historic Landmark

Kennebec ArsenalNational Historic Landmark

Lot Morrill HouseBuilt 1830

Famous people from Augusta

28 notable people were born in Augusta.

See all 28 →

Rachel NicholsAmerican actress and model · born 1980

Olympia SnoweAmerican politician; U.S. Senator for Maine · born 1947

Melville FullerChief justice of the United States from 1888 to 1910 · 1833–1910

Judith TarrAmerican fantasy writer, historian · born 1955

Julia ClukeyAmerican luger · born 1985

Samuel ConyAmerican politician · 1811–1870

About Augusta

Capital city of Maine, United States

Official town website ↗

Augusta is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maine. The city's population was 18,899 at the 2020 United States census, making it the 12th-most populous city in Maine, and third-least populous state capital in the United States. Augusta is the seat of and most populous city in Kennebec County. English settlers from the Popham Colony at the mouth of the Kennebec River explored the area in 1607. Before European settlement, Algonquian-speaking Indians lived in the area. In 1625, representatives of Plymouth Colony chose the east shore of the Kennebec for a trading post, which was likely built in 1628 and became known as "Cushnoc". The Kennebec Proprietors, successors to the Plymouth Company,…

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established: 1628
Area: 58 sq mi
Elevation: 66 ft
ZIP code: 04330, 04332, 04333
Area code: 207

Augusta’s neighbors

5 towns share a border with Augusta.

Explore the map →

All 4 graded towns on its borders grade higher than its D−; Vassalboro (D) is closest.

ManchesterHallowellChelseaSidneyVassalboroAugusta

Manchester

Visit

Hallowell

Visit

Chelsea

S · 3% of Augusta workers commute here

Visit

Sidney

Visit

Vassalboro

Visit

How the neighbors grade

Town	ME rank	Overall	Cost	Safety	Schools	Health
Augusta	#140	D⁻	C⁺	D	D	C
Manchester	—	—	C⁺	—	A⁻	A⁻
Hallowell	#27	A⁻	C	A	B	B
Chelsea	#51	B	B	—	A⁻	C
Sidney	#95	C	C	—	B⁺	C
Vassalboro	#135	D	B⁻	—	D	B

Manchester has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Manchester, Chelsea, Sidney and Vassalboro report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Augusta with a neighbor →

Questions about Augusta

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Augusta, ME a good place to live?

Augusta grades D− overall, better than 4% of U.S. towns and #140 of 142 in Maine. It grades C for health, D for safety and D for schools. Safety is its weak spot, with a D.

Is Augusta, ME expensive?

That is 4 years of the area's median household income ($69,077 across the Augusta-Waterville, ME area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.

What is Augusta, ME known for?

28 notable people were born here, including Rachel Nichols and Olympia Snowe.

Post to Augusta

Check your email

AugustaME

Is Augusta a good place to live?

What makes Augusta stand out

Jobs vs. working residents

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

398 years in pictures

How Augusta grades

Moving to Augusta: who provides what

The data

Conserved land covers 14.2% of Augusta

Augusta earns a D for schools

About half of working residents work right in Augusta

Where working residents work

Augusta stands out in Maine and nationally, with property crime higher than most

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Homes in Augusta are worth about $277K, by Zillow’s estimate

Typical home value

Health in Augusta trails 73% of U.S. towns

In Augusta, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers

Typical low → high °F

An age mix much like Maine’s

Ages · share of residents

Education · adults 25 and older

Women and men · all residents

Moderate risk in Augusta, with inland flooding at the top

Maine State Museum and 16 more within 40 miles

Everything we know about Augusta

Colleges nearby

University of Maine at Augusta calls Augusta home

Landmarks

Famous people from Augusta

About Augusta

Augusta’s neighbors

Questions about Augusta