Compare towns
Augusta vs Eustis vs Waterville vs Sidney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eustis has the oldest population (median age 59.1).
Waterville has the youngest population (median age 35.5).
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 | Eustis | Waterville | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
453Lowest |
17,077 |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.7% ME: +2.6% |
+0.7% ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
59.1±14Highest 32% above ME |
35.5±2.5Lowest 21% below ME |
43±5.5 4% below ME |
| Eustis 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% |
15.5%±13.4 ME: 18.1% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Augusta 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% |
38.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% ME: 36.2% |
13%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.8% ME: 36.2% |
33.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±4.8 ME: 5.8% |
18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3k 36% below ME |
$32,118±$11kLowest 57% below ME |
$53,580±$4k 28% below ME |
$83,488±$10kHighest 12% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
$262,200±$51k 12% below ME |
$184,600±$21kLowest 38% below ME |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
| Sidney and Eustis 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 |
$916±$547Lowest 20% below ME |
$978±$72 14% below ME |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
| Sidney and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465 19% below ME |
$1,542Lowest 49% below ME |
$2,755Highest 9% below ME |
$2,474 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
66%±37.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.5%±8.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Eustis and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.2% ME: 10.7% |
23%Highest ME: 10.7% |
20.6% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% ME: 74.3% |
61.8% ME: 74.3% |
48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 24% below ME |
12 minLowest 52% below ME |
18 min 27% below ME |
25 minHighest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
12.5%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.6%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Waterville 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 | — | #105 of 133 in ME | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Eustis Public Schools | Waterville Public Schools | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | Waterville Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.