Compare towns
Sidney vs Braintree vs Augusta
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Braintree | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790 |
1,026Lowest |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Augusta and Braintree 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 3% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$217,700±$28k 35% below U.S. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$919±$79 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474 21% below U.S. |
$3,908Highest 25% above U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree 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 |
| School district | RSU 18 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 17.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.