Compare towns
Sidney vs Bingham 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%).
Bingham has the most affordable homes ($103k median).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
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 | Bingham | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790 |
660Lowest |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 4% below ME |
56±8.2Highest 25% above ME |
42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
| Bingham and Sidney 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% |
15.6%±6.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 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% |
38.3%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Augusta and Bingham 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 |
$42,708±$22kLowest 43% below ME |
$47,979±$3k 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$103,000±$26kLowest 65% below ME |
$201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$354±$264Lowest 69% below ME |
$919±$79 19% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474Highest 19% below ME |
$1,059Lowest 65% below ME |
$2,465 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±45.9 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Bingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.1% ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1965 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±6Lowest 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 | RSU 83/MSAD 13 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | None in town | Upper Kennebec Valley Middle/Senior High School | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.3Lowest |
17.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.