Compare towns
Augusta vs Brandon vs Derby vs Sidney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Brandon has the oldest housing (typical home built 1951).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Brandon | Derby | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
4,120Lowest |
4,537 |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
| Derby and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Augusta and Brandon 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 41% below U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
$80,250±$8k about the U.S. average |
$83,488±$10kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Sidney and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
$225,000±$10k 32% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
$1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$4,241Highest 36% above U.S. |
$3,449 11% above U.S. |
$2,474 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | #52 of 70 in VT | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | Cony | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
9.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.