Compare towns
Sidney vs Center Harbor 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%).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
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 | Center Harbor | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790 |
955Lowest |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
60.4±4.8Highest 55% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest 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% |
39.5%±13.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Augusta and Sidney 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. |
$104,313±$16kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Center Harbor 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 about the U.S. average |
$463,800±$74kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
— | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474 21% below U.S. |
$4,667Highest 50% above U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 17.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.