Compare towns
Augusta vs Newfields vs Stratham 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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Stratham has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
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 | Newfields | Stratham | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
2,023Lowest |
7,754 |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% 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%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Sidney 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% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Augusta and Stratham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Stratham 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. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
| Stratham and Newfields 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. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$2,474 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Stratham 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Newfields School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | 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 | 6 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.