Compare towns

Augusta vs North Berwick vs Sidney

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
North Berwick has the most expensive homes ($429k 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.

MeasureAugustaNorth BerwickSidney
People
Population
19,077Highest
5,129
4,790Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+8.8%
ME: +2.6%
+10.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
42.5±2.4
5% below ME
41.6±4.7Lowest
7% below ME
43±5.5Highest
4% below ME
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
ME: 18.1%
21.2%±5.1
ME: 18.1%
23.1%±5.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
Sidney and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.5%±2.6Highest
ME: 22.4%
20.9%±5
ME: 22.4%
18.4%±3.6Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Augusta and North Berwick 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
ME: 36.2%
29%
ME: 36.2%
33.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.1
ME: 5.8%
4.7%±2.1Highest
ME: 5.8%
1.5%±1.2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
North Berwick and Augusta 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
36% below ME
$101,875±$16kHighest
36% above ME
$83,488±$10k
12% above ME
North Berwick and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$201,000±$18kLowest
32% below ME
$428,500±$33kHighest
44% above ME
$336,200±$34k
13% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$919±$79Lowest
19% below ME
$1,105±$116
about the ME average
$1,340±$304Highest
18% above ME
Sidney and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,465Lowest
19% below ME
$3,735Highest
23% above ME
$2,474
19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.2%±8.3
ME: 48.4%
66.2%±28.7Highest
ME: 48.4%
16.4%±17.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
North Berwick 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
ME: 10.7%
4.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
6.4%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
88.7%
ME: 74.3%
89.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965Lowest
12 yrs older than ME
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
1996Highest
19 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
24% below ME
31 minHighest
27% above ME
25 min
about the ME average
Work from home
15.1%±3.7Highest
ME: 15.9%
15%±5.8
ME: 15.9%
14.3%±5.9Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Augusta and North Berwick 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 #82 of 133 in ME #15 of 133 in ME
School district Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy RSU 60/MSAD 60 RSU 18
High school in town Cony Noble High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
17.9Highest
12.0Lowest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

ME 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.