Augusta, ME vs Waterville, ME

Augusta, ME and Waterville, ME have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.1% difference in their overall index. Augusta scores 78 while Waterville scores 79 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Augusta is $887/month compared to $957/month in Waterville — a 7% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Augusta has cheaper rent, Waterville actually has lower median home values ($173,700 vs $188,900).

Median household income in Augusta is $48,756 compared to $47,489 in Waterville (+2.7%). Augusta offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Augusta spend roughly 21.8% of their income on rent, less than the 24.2% in Waterville.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (46.1°F vs 46.1°F). Waterville receives more rainfall at 41.8" per year compared to 41.8" in Augusta.