Compare towns
Augusta vs Hooksett vs Hallowell 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).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Hallowell has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Sidney has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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 | Hooksett | Hallowell | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
15,057 |
2,592Lowest |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
50.3±7.9Highest 29% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Hallowell 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. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$68,398±$10k 15% below U.S. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$295,300±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 35% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$890±$175Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Sidney 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. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,867 24% above U.S. |
$2,474 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Hooksett 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hallowell 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Hooksett School District | RSU 02 | RSU 18 |
| 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 History | None yet | 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.