Compare towns
Augusta vs Newfields 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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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 | Newfields | Sidney | Bangor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077 |
2,023Lowest |
4,790 |
31,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
41±1.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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% |
68.1%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% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bangor and Newfields 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% 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. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% 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. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,055±$43 25% below U.S. |
| Newfields 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
43.3%±40.8 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% |
2.4%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% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1991 11 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. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 133 in ME | — | #15 of 133 in ME | #37 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Newfields 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 | 6 photos → | 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.