Compare towns
Augusta vs Sandgate 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
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Sidney has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
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 | Sandgate | Sidney | Bangor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077 |
435Lowest |
4,790 |
31,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% 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. |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
41±1.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±1.7 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% |
26%±11.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sandgate and Augusta 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% |
37.8%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% |
2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$69,167±$19k 14% below U.S. |
$83,488±$10kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$59,942±$7k 26% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 40% below U.S. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$219,600±$10k 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
— | $1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,055±$43 25% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Bangor 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. |
$2,778 11% below U.S. |
$2,474 21% below U.S. |
$3,076Highest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5 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% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%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. |
1959 21 yrs older 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. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Augusta 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 | #37 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | — | RSU 18 | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 |
| High school in town | Cony | — | None in town | Bangor High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
— | — | 13.3Lowest |
| 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.