Compare towns
Augusta vs Castleton vs Sidney vs Chelsea
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).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Chelsea has the most affordable homes ($182k median).
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 | Castleton | Sidney | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
4,453 |
4,790 |
2,823Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.2±3.6 8% above U.S. |
| Sidney and Augusta 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% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chelsea and Sidney 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% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chelsea 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$85,471±$10kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Chelsea and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 40% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$182,300±$37kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,373±$90Highest about the U.S. average |
| Chelsea and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465 21% below U.S. |
$3,167Highest about the U.S. average |
$2,474 21% below U.S. |
$2,313Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
15%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Augusta 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% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±3Lowest 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #15 of 133 in ME | #93 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 18 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.