Compare towns
Sidney vs West Gardiner vs Durham 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%).
West Gardiner has the oldest population (median age 43.5).
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 | West Gardiner | Durham | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790 |
3,696Lowest |
4,262 |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 4% below ME |
43.5±2.8Highest about the ME average |
42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
| West Gardiner 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% |
18.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Durham 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% |
17.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Augusta and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% ME: 36.2% |
32.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
8.1%±5.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| West Gardiner 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 12% above ME |
$96,172±$30k 29% above ME |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
| Durham and West Gardiner 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 |
$305,100±$42k about the ME average |
$322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
| Sidney and Durham 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 |
$1,087±$150 5% below ME |
— | $919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
| Sidney and West Gardiner 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 |
$2,282Lowest 25% below ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$2,465 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
57.1%±9.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
| West Gardiner 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% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% ME: 74.3% |
88.7% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
24 min about the ME average |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
13.8%±7.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Durham 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 | #90 of 133 in ME | #14 of 133 in ME | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 11/MSAD 11 | 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 Our Story | 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.