Compare towns
Sidney vs Ogunquit vs Eliot 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 the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Ogunquit | Eliot | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790 |
1,379Lowest |
7,146 |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 4% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
50.8±5.9 13% above ME |
42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.8%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Eliot 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% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.6% ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$101,522±$10k 36% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Eliot 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$498,900±$62k 68% above ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304 18% above ME |
— | $1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
| Eliot and Sidney 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 |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$4,549Highest 50% above ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.1%±20.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Eliot and Augusta 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.8% ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.8% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
23 min 9% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.4%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #15 of 133 in ME | — | #19 of 133 in ME | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | 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 | 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.