Compare towns
Sidney vs Dover 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%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Belgrade has the oldest population (median age 47.3).
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 | Dover | Augusta | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790 |
33,364Highest |
19,077 |
3,351Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% 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. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
47.3±14.6Highest 22% 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% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6 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%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±6.4Highest 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% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Belgrade 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. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$88,338±$13k 9% above U.S. |
| Dover and Belgrade 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 |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$312,200±$44k 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$919±$79 35% below U.S. |
$857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Dover and Sidney 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. |
$8,249Highest 164% 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% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.2%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Dover 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% |
8.3% 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% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 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. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Belgrade and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #119 of 133 in ME | #71 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Dover School District | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Cony | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Lowest |
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.