Compare towns
Sidney vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
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 | Strafford | Durham | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790 |
1,372Lowest |
4,262 |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% 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. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%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% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Durham 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. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$99,181±$5k 23% above U.S. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Durham 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
— | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Strafford 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% 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% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±40.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Strafford 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% |
5.2% 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% |
88.9% 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. |
1980 same as 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. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | 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.