Compare towns
Sidney vs Appleton vs Belgrade vs Augusta
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% 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 | Sidney | Appleton | Belgrade | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790 |
1,360Lowest |
3,351 |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+1.9% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 4% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
47.3±14.6 6% above ME |
42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
| Appleton and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$88,338±$13kHighest 18% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
| Belgrade and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$312,200±$44k 5% above ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
| Sidney and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
$919±$79 19% below ME |
| Sidney and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474 19% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,859 6% below ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Belgrade 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | — | #71 of 133 in ME | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 18 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 17.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.