Compare towns
Sidney vs Strong 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%).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Strong | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790 |
1,249Lowest |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 4% below ME |
47.5±8.9Highest 6% above ME |
42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
| Strong 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 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Strong 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% |
22%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Strong 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Augusta and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10kHighest 12% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$47,979±$3k 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
| Sidney and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474Highest 19% below ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
$2,465 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Strong 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% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Augusta 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 | — | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | 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 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.