Compare towns
Sidney vs Waterford 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%).
Waterford has the oldest population (median age 54.3).
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 | Waterford | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790 |
1,295Lowest |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.1% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 4% below ME |
54.3±1.6Highest 21% above ME |
42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
12.9%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Augusta 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% |
27.7%±1.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.5% ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Waterford 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±$10kHighest 12% above ME |
$66,071±$17k 12% below ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
| Sidney and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$273,800±$36k 8% below ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
| Sidney and Waterford 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 |
$870±$405Lowest 24% below ME |
$919±$79 19% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474Highest 19% below ME |
$1,917Lowest 37% below ME |
$2,465 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.6%±34 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Waterford 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% |
16.4% ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
34 minHighest 40% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Waterford 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 17/MSAD 17 | 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.