Compare towns
Augusta vs Middlesex 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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Hallowell has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Hallowell | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,592 |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
50.3±7.9Highest 29% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
| Hallowell and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hallowell and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% 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. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$295,300±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex 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. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$890±$175Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% 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% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Hallowell 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% |
3.8%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% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 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 4% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Hallowell 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.