Compare towns
Augusta vs Methuen 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).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).
Sidney has the most homeowners (89.4%).
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 | Methuen | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077 |
53,475Highest |
4,790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
43±5.5Highest 11% 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%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Methuen 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% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Augusta and Sidney 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% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$5,061Highest 62% above U.S. |
$2,474 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Methuen 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Methuen | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | Cony | Methuen High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
13.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.