Compare towns
Augusta vs Waterville vs Windham 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
Waterville has the youngest population (median age 35.5).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Sidney has the oldest population (median age 43).
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 | Waterville | Windham | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
17,077 |
16,038 |
4,790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
35.5±2.5Lowest 9% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
| 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%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
18.3%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Augusta and Sidney 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% |
30.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$53,580±$4k 34% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18k 40% below U.S. |
$184,600±$21kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$978±$72 31% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$2,755 12% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,474 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.5%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Waterville 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 | #105 of 133 in ME | #13 of 120 in NH | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Waterville Public Schools | Windham School District | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | Cony | Waterville Senior High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
12.8Lowest |
12.8Lowest |
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| 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.