Compare towns
Sidney vs Arundel 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%).
Arundel has the most expensive homes ($421k median).
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
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 | Arundel | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790 |
4,418Lowest |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5Highest 4% below ME |
40.9±6.4Lowest 9% below ME |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
| Sidney and Augusta 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% |
20.4%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| 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+ | 33.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.4% ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Augusta and Arundel 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 |
$101,597±$17kHighest 36% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
| Arundel 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±$34k 13% above ME |
$421,300±$62kHighest 42% above ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
| Arundel and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304 18% above ME |
$1,607±$495Highest 41% above ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
| Arundel and Sidney 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 |
$3,763Highest 24% above ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
34.2%±22.7 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Arundel 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% |
5.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.2% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest about the ME average |
23 min 7% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
7%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Augusta and Sidney 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 | #7 of 133 in ME | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 21 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 17.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.