Compare towns
Augusta vs Hollis vs Sidney vs Auburn
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).
Hollis has the highest household income ($96k).
Sidney has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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 | Hollis | Sidney | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077 |
4,872 |
4,790Lowest |
24,602Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.4% ME: +2.6% |
+4.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
43.8±4.2Highest about the ME average |
43±5.5 4% below ME |
41.4±2.7Lowest 8% below ME |
| Hollis 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% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±2.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±2 ME: 22.4% |
| Augusta and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% ME: 36.2% |
30.7% ME: 36.2% |
33.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Auburn and Hollis 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 |
$95,950±$24kHighest 28% above ME |
$83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
$66,647±$5k 11% below ME |
| Hollis and Sidney 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 |
$338,900±$27kHighest 14% above ME |
$336,200±$34k 13% above ME |
$282,000±$12k 5% below ME |
| Hollis and Sidney 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 |
$1,372±$293Highest 20% above ME |
$1,340±$304 18% above ME |
$1,041±$74 9% below ME |
| Hollis and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$2,625 14% below ME |
$2,474 19% below ME |
$3,687Highest 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
48.9%±30.2 ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±7.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| 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 ME: 10.7% |
5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.6% ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
22 min 12% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
11.5%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hollis 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 | #88 of 133 in ME | #15 of 133 in ME | #110 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 18 | Auburn Public Schools |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | None in town | Edward Little High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | — | 13.1Lowest |
| 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.