Compare towns
Augusta vs Durham vs Sidney vs Hallowell
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).
Durham has the highest household income ($99k).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Hallowell has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Durham | Sidney | Hallowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
4,262 |
4,790 |
2,592Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
43±5.5 4% below ME |
50.3±7.9Highest 12% above ME |
| Hallowell 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% |
19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Durham 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% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
33.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.8% ME: 36.2% |
33.5% ME: 36.2% |
52.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hallowell and Durham 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 |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
$68,398±$10k 8% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$295,300±$45k about the ME average |
| Sidney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 19% below ME |
— | $1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$890±$175Lowest 22% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$3,781 25% above ME |
$2,474 19% below ME |
$3,867Highest 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±17.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Hallowell 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% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
58.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 24% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
14 minLowest 43% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Hallowell 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 | #14 of 133 in ME | #15 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 05 | RSU 18 | RSU 02 |
| 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.