Compare towns
Sidney vs Gorham vs Durham 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%).
Gorham has the oldest population (median age 53.9).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
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 | Gorham | Durham | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790 |
2,682Lowest |
4,262 |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Durham 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% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Durham 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. |
$61,275±$7k 24% below U.S. |
$99,181±$5kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
$201,000±$18k 40% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Durham 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. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
— | $919±$79 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474 21% below U.S. |
$4,334Highest 39% above U.S. |
$3,781 21% above U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±40.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Gorham 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham 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 | #57 of 120 in NH | #14 of 133 in ME | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | RSU 05 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
— | 17.9Highest |
| 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.