Compare towns
Sidney vs Reading vs Durham 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%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Durham has the highest household income ($99k).
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 | Reading | Durham | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790 |
699Lowest |
4,262 |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Durham 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Durham 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 3% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$99,181±$5kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Durham and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Reading 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. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
— | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Reading 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. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$3,781 21% above U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±40.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Durham 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 | — | #14 of 133 in ME | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | RSU 05 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 17.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.