Popular Augusta Neighborhoods for Black Singles, Young Professionals & Black Families – Maine

With its quaint, small-town New England feel, charming sense of community, and thriving downtown area, Augusta, Maine, offers a little bit of everything for both families and young professionals.

Augusta is officially split into five neighborhood areas, each with characteristics that draw in locals and new residents alike.

3 Best Augusta Suburbs for Black Families

Next we’re going to explore in detail the three best Augusta neighborhoods for Black families. This will help you make a more informed choice about where to move.

Northeastern Augusta

For families searching for a safe place to settle down, the residential suburb of Northeastern Augusta has a lot to offer.

According to The Town Line, a community newspaper serving the Augusta area, nearly ⅓ of residents in Maine have a French background, with many of them concentrated in the Northeastern suburb.

The Northeastern neighborhood has more residents of French and French-Canadian ancestry than nearly all other U.S. neighborhoods!

This area features low housing costs, as well as convenient access to in-town shops.

The average monthly rent is far less than most other areas in the United States, at only $413, perfect for newlyweds and new parents who are coming to Augusta to start their new life.

First-time homeowners will be equally delighted at how little it costs to find the house of their dreams.

The average home values of the area are around $80,694, with nearly 75% of Northeastern residents owning their own homes.

Children will enjoy this area because of its enrichment and recreation programs.

One option is the French Language Heritage Program, which teaches young students about French culture and language through activities, games, and field trips.

Lillian Parks Hussey School, which serves K-6 students, is rated a 10/10 by Public School Review because of their impressive test scores.

The quality of their education program puts them in the top 10% of schools across the state.

Southeastern Augusta

Across the downtown district’s river, Southeastern Augusta is a family-friendly rural area populated mainly by government workers.

New residents to the area can expect to pay around $200,000 for a home there or $1,055 for a rental.

That’s a far throw from the more affordable Northeastern neighborhood, but families looking for plenty of weekend entertainment options will be willing to pay a little extra for the convenience.

Spend your weekends touring the beautiful Viles Arboretum, a free botanical garden on 224 acres of preserved land and featuring six miles of trails.

Budding artists will enjoy the local art hung around the garden, showcasing works done by Augusta natives.

It’s also just a short drive to the thriving Capitol Area, where parents and children can learn more about the area at the Maine State Museum.

While it is currently closed until 2022 for repairs and upgrades, its grand reopening is sure to be a much-anticipated event.

Northwestern Augusta

Occupied mainly by high-rise apartments and small, single-family homes, Northwestern Augusta is a lovely place to start a family.

With the University of Maine at Augusta campus sprawling across the Northwestern suburb, larger families may have difficulty finding housing accommodations suitable for their brood.

This area is seasonally occupied due to the number of students who come for their post-secondary education, then leave for the summer.

For that reason, homes are a bit more expensive in this area, averaging around $193,000.

Student renters can find apartments for a little more than $1,000 a month, a reasonable accommodation price close to campus.

But, that’s a small price to pay when you consider the peace of mind you’ll live in an area with such a low population density but still near city resources and activities.

You’ll also feel safer knowing that the Northwestern neighborhood is close to the Alfond Center for Health in case of emergencies or pediatric care needs.

2 Best Augusta Neighborhoods for Young Black Professionals & Singles

If you’re single or a young professional, you’ll be looking for different characteristics in a neighborhood compared to a family. Carry on reading to find out about the top Augusta suburbs for young Black professionals and singles.

The Capital Area

Also called the City Center, the Capital Area is the town seat of local politics, small businesses, and downtown commerce.

It still maintains a more suburban feel because of its low population density.

Singles searching for love can find plenty of companionship, as this area of Augusta has more divorcees than 99.8% of other U.S. cities.

The commute time is also a tempting benefit, at less than 15 minutes in most cases.

Young entrepreneurs will be right at home with the other residents, of which 42.9% are executives, managers, and professionals.

When work is over, there’s plenty more to see and do in the Capital Area.

If museums interest you, Sonny’s Museum, the Old Post Office, and the Holocaust Human Rights Center of Maine are all available for tours.

Or grab a little R&R at The Senator Spa, where visitors can experience head-to-toe pampering with massages, nail services, and saunas.

The West Side

There’s no better place for young professionals to settle down in Augusta than the historic West Side neighborhood.

It’s nestled close to downtown, making morning commutes more pleasant and offering easy access to thriving businesses without the late-night hustle and bustle of living in the middle of a commerce center.

But, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t plenty to do right in your backyard.

Stop by one of the many bars and breweries for a drink after work or enjoy a date night at a top-rated restaurant.

Capitol Park straddles the border between the City Center and the West Side neighborhoods if you like to spend time in the sunshine.

You’ll have a full view of the capitol building while you take a midday stroll and have only a short walk back to work after you get your daily steps in.

These amenities complement excellent housing rates.

Young professionals will appreciate the low rent prices, averaging at just $435 per month.

When they are ready to buy, home prices are very reasonable, with an approximate market value of $90,482.

Is Augusta Safe?

Families, singles, and young professionals alike are concerned about crime rates in the places they choose to live.

While most of Augusta is quiet and family-oriented, there are pockets of the city where the chances of crime are higher than average.

According to Neighborhood Scout, Augusta has a crime index of 11, which means safer than only 11% of other cities in the United States.

While that number might seem shocking for such a quaint, New England town, it might help that the violent crime rate is much, much smaller than the property crime rate.

Augusta deals with around 49 violent crimes per year, which averages only 2.62 crimes per 1,000 residents.

There were no reported homicides last year.

Property crimes number around 589 annually, sending the crime rate skyrocketing to an overall 34.12 per 1,000 residents.

Theft makes up the vast majority of these crimes, with 521 counts reported in 2020.

There are, of course, ways to keep yourself safe.

The City Center area is ranked as the most dangerous in Augusta, so families would be better off living in the quieter areas on the other side of the river.

The Northeastern neighborhood, made up of residential homes occupied by families, is rated the safest.

What Is Augusta’s Demographic?

According to Data USA, Augusta, Maine’s population is made up of 92.9% White people.

Black and African American diversity is the lowest, at 0.838%.

The median age is also relatively high, at 46. Only 15.4% of the population is under 18.

While this may sound unappealing to young professionals and families with children, singles looking for love have plenty of eligible interests to choose from.

Augusta also hosts a large number of divorcees, who make up nearly a quarter of residents.

These demographics show that the area is far from teeming with other families raising their children, but the quiet neighborhoods and excellent schools are appealing nonetheless.

Top Augusta Neighborhoods for Black Families, Conclusion

Augusta’s population is made up mostly of older divorcees who work in executive and government roles.

Its charming quaintness is enhanced with plenty to see and do, especially for those interested in daytime entertainment options.

While families will enjoy the slow-paced living, those looking for a nightlife experience may have better luck in larger cities.