Compare towns
Sidney vs Augusta vs Oakland vs North Berwick
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).
Oakland has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
North Berwick has the most expensive homes ($429k 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 | Augusta | Oakland | North Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790Lowest |
19,077Highest |
6,309 |
5,129 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5Highest 4% below ME |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME |
41.6±4.7 7% 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%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Oakland and Sidney 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% |
18.2%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.9%±5 ME: 22.4% |
| Augusta and North Berwick 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% ME: 36.2% |
24.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Oakland and North Berwick 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 |
$77,813±$16k 4% above ME |
$101,875±$16kHighest 36% above ME |
| North Berwick 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 |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$236,000±$23k 20% below ME |
$428,500±$33kHighest 44% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$939±$74 18% below ME |
$1,105±$116 about the ME average |
| Sidney and North Berwick 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 |
$2,465 19% below ME |
$2,439Lowest 20% below ME |
$3,735Highest 23% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
66.2%±28.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| North Berwick and Oakland 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% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
77.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
27 min 8% above ME |
31 minHighest 27% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Augusta and North Berwick 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 | #23 of 133 in ME | #82 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 18 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | None in town | Cony | Messalonskee High School | Noble High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 17.9Highest |
14.2 |
12.0Lowest |
| 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.