Compare towns
Augusta vs Rye vs Sidney vs Hallowell
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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Hallowell has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Rye | Sidney | Hallowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
5,611 |
4,790 |
2,592Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
50.3±7.9 29% above U.S. |
| Rye and Hallowell 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% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest 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%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hallowell and Rye 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% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hallowell 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 41% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$68,398±$10k 15% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$295,300±$45k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79 35% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$890±$175Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rye 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. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$2,474 21% below U.S. |
$3,867 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Rye 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #15 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Rye School District | RSU 18 | RSU 02 |
| 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 | 12 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.