What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sidney	Augusta
People
Population	4,790Lowest	19,077Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43±5.5Highest 4% below ME	42.5±2.4Lowest 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%	18.9%±2.6Lowest 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+	18.4%±3.6Lowest 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%	28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Augusta and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,488±$10kHighest 12% above ME	$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME	$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME	$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,474Highest 19% below ME	$2,465Lowest 19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	18.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME	1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest about the ME average	19 minLowest 24% below ME
Work from home	14.3%±5.9Lowest 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	#119 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 18	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy
High school 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

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.