Compare towns
Augusta vs China vs Durham 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 renters (46.2% rent).
China has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
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 | China | Durham | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
4,526 |
4,262Lowest |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
43±5.5Highest 4% below ME |
| Sidney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Augusta and China 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 ME: 36.2% |
31.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
33.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Augusta 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 |
$96,309±$12k 29% above ME |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
| Durham and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$240,000±$37k 19% below ME |
$322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
| Sidney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
— | — | $1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$2,535 17% below ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$2,474 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Durham 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% |
6% ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.8% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
30 minHighest 21% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±4.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Augusta 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 | #27 of 133 in ME | #14 of 133 in ME | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 18 | RSU 05 | RSU 18 |
| 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 Our Story | 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.