Compare towns
Sidney vs Laconia 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%).
Laconia has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Laconia | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790Lowest |
17,085 |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
45.3±3.9Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Laconia 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% |
18.4%±2.9Lowest 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% |
22.8%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Laconia 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Augusta and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$73,218±$12k 9% below U.S. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Laconia 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 |
$340,300±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Laconia 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 5% below U.S. |
$1,224±$107 13% below U.S. |
$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Laconia 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. |
$4,484Highest 44% above U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±10.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Laconia and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
19 min 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest 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 | #105 of 120 in NH | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Laconia School District | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | None in town | Laconia High School | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Lowest |
17.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.