Compare towns
Sidney vs Unity vs Augusta vs North Berwick
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%).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
North Berwick has the most expensive homes ($429k median).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Augusta | North Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790 |
1,858Lowest |
19,077Highest |
5,129 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5Highest 4% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
41.6±4.7 7% below ME |
| Sidney and Augusta 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% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
21.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.9%±5 ME: 22.4% |
| Augusta and North Berwick 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% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.9% ME: 36.2% |
29% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$101,875±$16kHighest 36% above ME |
| North Berwick 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 |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$428,500±$33kHighest 44% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$919±$79 19% below ME |
$1,105±$116 about the ME average |
| Sidney and North Berwick 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 |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$3,735Highest 23% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
66.2%±28.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| North Berwick 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% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
21 min 14% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
31 minHighest 27% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
15%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity 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 | #82 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | Cony | Noble High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
17.9Highest |
12.0Lowest |
| 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.