Compare towns
Auburn vs Augusta vs Sidney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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.
| Measure | Auburn | Augusta | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,602Highest |
19,077 |
4,790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7Lowest 8% below ME |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
43±5.5Highest 4% below ME |
| Sidney and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.3 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±2 ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Augusta and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.9% ME: 36.2% |
33.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Auburn and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,647±$5k 11% below ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$83,488±$10kHighest 12% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,000±$12k 5% below ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$74 9% below ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
| Sidney and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,687Highest 21% above ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$2,474 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±7.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Auburn and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.8% ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 12% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
25 minHighest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.5%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Augusta and Sidney 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 | #110 of 133 in ME | #119 of 133 in ME | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Auburn Public Schools | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | Edward Little High School | Cony | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
17.9Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.