Compare towns
Sidney vs Hope vs Augusta
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hope has the most people working from home (18.3%).
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 | Hope | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790 |
1,748Lowest |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 4% below ME |
44.6±3.1Highest about the ME average |
42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
| Hope and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Augusta and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Augusta and Hope 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 12% above ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
| Hope 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 13% above ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
| Hope and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$1,219±$182 7% above ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
| Sidney and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474 19% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest about the ME average |
20 min 19% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope 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 | — | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Hope Public Schools | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | None 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 |
ME 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.