Compare towns
Sidney vs Brandon vs Augusta vs Belgrade
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%).
Brandon has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
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 | Brandon | Augusta | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790 |
4,120 |
19,077Highest |
3,351Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
47.3±14.6 22% above U.S. |
| Brandon and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Belgrade 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% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belgrade and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belgrade 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 3% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$88,338±$13kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Belgrade 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±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$312,200±$44k 6% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
$919±$79 35% below U.S. |
$857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474 21% below U.S. |
$4,241Highest 36% above U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$2,859 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.2%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Belgrade 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | #119 of 133 in ME | #71 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Cony | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
17.9Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.