Compare towns
Sidney vs Methuen 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 the most homeowners (89.4%).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).
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 | Methuen | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790Lowest |
53,475Highest |
19,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Methuen 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% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474 21% below U.S. |
$5,061Highest 62% above U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Methuen 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Methuen | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | None in town | Methuen High | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Lowest |
17.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.