Compare towns
Sidney vs Augusta vs Durham vs China
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%).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
China has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Augusta | Durham | China |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790 |
19,077Highest |
4,262Lowest |
4,526 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5Highest 4% below ME |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
| Sidney and Durham 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% |
19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and China 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% |
21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Augusta and China 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% |
28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Augusta 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 |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$96,309±$12k 29% above ME |
| Durham and China 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 |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
$240,000±$37k 19% below ME |
| Sidney and Durham 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 |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474 19% below ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$2,535 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Durham 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% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±4.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Durham 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 | #119 of 133 in ME | #14 of 133 in ME | #27 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 05 | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Cony | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 17.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.