Compare towns
Augusta vs Hooksett vs Sidney vs Bangor
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).
Sidney has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Bangor has the most renters (52.8% rent).
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 | Sidney | Bangor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077 |
15,057 |
4,790Lowest |
31,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
41±1.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Sidney and Augusta 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% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±1.7Lowest 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%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Augusta and Bangor 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% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bangor and Hooksett 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. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$59,942±$7k 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$219,600±$10k 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,055±$43 25% 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. |
$2,474 21% below U.S. |
$3,076 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bangor 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
47.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±2.5Lowest 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #15 of 133 in ME | #37 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Hooksett School District | RSU 18 | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 |
| High school in town | Cony | None in town | None in town | Bangor High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | — | 13.3Lowest |
| 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.