Compare towns
Sidney vs Lewiston vs Augusta
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Lewiston has the youngest population (median age 37.3).
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 | Lewiston | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790Lowest |
38,324Highest |
19,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.4% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5Highest 4% below ME |
37.3±1.2Lowest 17% below ME |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
| Sidney and Augusta 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% |
20.6%±1.5 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Lewiston 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% |
18.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Augusta and Sidney 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 ME: 36.2% |
22.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
10.1%±1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10kHighest 12% above ME |
$55,393±$4k 26% below ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$235,100±$8k 21% below ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$986±$44 13% below ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474 19% below ME |
$2,899Highest 5% below ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
51.7%±5.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Lewiston 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 ME: 10.7% |
20%Highest ME: 10.7% |
18.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
51.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
53.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1957Lowest 20 yrs older than ME |
1965 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest about the ME average |
21 min 15% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | #132 of 133 in ME | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | None in town | Lewiston High School | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Lowest |
17.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.