Compare towns
Sidney vs Berwick vs South Berwick 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%).
South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($428k 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 | Berwick | South Berwick | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790 |
1,998Lowest |
7,670 |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.1% ME: +2.6% |
+3.4% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5Highest 4% below ME |
42.6±3.6 5% below ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
| Sidney and Berwick 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% |
22.5%±12.5 ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick 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% |
16.9%±8.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
35.4% ME: 36.2% |
41.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| South Berwick 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 |
$81,406±$39k 9% above ME |
$99,572±$13kHighest 33% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
| South 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 |
$323,300±$36k 9% above ME |
$428,300±$26kHighest 44% above ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304 18% above ME |
$1,041±$901 9% below ME |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
| South Berwick 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 |
$3,806 25% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
| South Berwick 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% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
73% ME: 74.3% |
78.3% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1969 8 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
34 minHighest 37% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
13.7%±7.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| South Berwick 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Marshwood High School | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.0Lowest |
17.9Highest |
| 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.