Compare towns
Augusta vs Wells 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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Sidney has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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 | Wells | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
11,713 |
4,790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
43±5.5 4% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
33.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wells 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 |
$88,024±$11kHighest 18% above ME |
$83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
| Wells 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 |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$336,200±$34k 13% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$1,340±$304 18% above ME |
| Wells and Sidney 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 |
$3,215Highest 6% above ME |
$2,474 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Wells 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% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wells 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | Cony | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.