Compare towns
Augusta vs Lyndeborough vs Mapleton 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 renters (46.2% rent).
Lyndeborough has the highest household income ($117k).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Lyndeborough | Mapleton | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
1,616Lowest |
1,884 |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough 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% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Mapleton 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% |
22.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyndeborough 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% |
40.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Lyndeborough 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. |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 40% below U.S. |
$390,900±$26kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Lyndeborough and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 35% below U.S. |
$1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465 21% below U.S. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,474 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Lyndeborough 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyndeborough 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 | — | — | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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.