Compare towns
Augusta vs Gorham vs Sidney vs Auburn
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Gorham has the oldest population (median age 53.9).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Auburn has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
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 | Gorham | Sidney | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077 |
2,682Lowest |
4,790 |
24,602Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Auburn 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% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Auburn 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. |
$61,275±$7k 24% below U.S. |
$83,488±$10kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$66,647±$5k 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 40% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$282,000±$12k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 35% below U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,041±$74 26% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Auburn 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. |
$4,334Highest 39% above U.S. |
$2,474 21% below U.S. |
$3,687 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Auburn 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±2.7 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 | #57 of 120 in NH | #15 of 133 in ME | #110 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | RSU 18 | Auburn Public Schools |
| High school in town | Cony | Gorham High School | None in town | Edward Little High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 5 photos → | 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.