Compare towns
Augusta vs Hampstead vs Sidney
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 affordable homes ($201k median).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
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 | Hampstead | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
9,102 |
4,790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Hampstead 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% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead 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 41% below U.S. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Hampstead 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. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$2,474 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Hampstead 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Hampstead School District | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | Cony | 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 |
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.