Compare towns
Sidney vs Castleton vs Belgrade 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%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
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 | Castleton | Belgrade | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790 |
4,453 |
3,351Lowest |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.3±14.6Highest 22% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
| Belgrade 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6 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% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belgrade and Augusta 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% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$88,338±$13kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below 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 |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$312,200±$44k 6% below U.S. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% 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. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$919±$79 35% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Castleton 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. |
$3,167Highest about the U.S. average |
$2,859 8% below U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.2%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Augusta 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% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #71 of 133 in ME | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 18 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.