Compare towns
Sidney vs Jackson vs Augusta vs Belgrade
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sidney has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Jackson has the youngest population (median age 37.7).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
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 | Jackson | Augusta | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790 |
567Lowest |
19,077Highest |
3,351 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 4% below ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
47.3±14.6Highest 6% above ME |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| 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% ME: 36.2% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Augusta 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 |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$88,338±$13kHighest 18% above ME |
| 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 13% above ME |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$312,200±$44k 5% above ME |
| 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 18% above ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$919±$79 19% below ME |
$857±$108 25% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474 19% below ME |
$2,651 13% below ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$2,859Highest 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Belgrade 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% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1993 16 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Belgrade and Jackson 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 | #71 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | — | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Cony | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 17.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.