Compare towns
Sidney vs Union vs Wayne 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%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Union | Wayne | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790 |
2,663 |
1,101Lowest |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 4% below ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Sidney 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% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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 |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
| Wayne and Sidney 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 |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
| Wayne 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 18% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
| Sidney and Union 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 |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Wayne 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% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
29 min 20% above ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Union 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 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 38 | 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 |
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.