Compare towns
Augusta vs Appleton vs Auburn vs Sidney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Auburn has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
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 | Augusta | Appleton | Auburn | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077 |
1,360Lowest |
24,602Highest |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4.4% ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.4±2.7Lowest 8% below ME |
43±5.5 4% below ME |
| Appleton and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±2.3 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+ | 21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±2 ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
33.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Auburn and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$66,647±$5k 11% below ME |
$83,488±$10kHighest 12% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$282,000±$12k 5% below ME |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,041±$74 9% below ME |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
| Sidney and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,687Highest 21% above ME |
$2,474 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±7.4 ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
59.1% ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
22 min 12% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.5%±2.7 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 | #119 of 133 in ME | — | #110 of 133 in ME | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Appleton Public Schools | Auburn Public Schools | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | Edward Little High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | 13.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.