Compare towns
Sidney vs Windsor vs Belgrade vs Augusta
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k median).
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Augusta has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Windsor | Belgrade | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790 |
2,060Lowest |
3,351 |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
44.6±12.3 15% above U.S. |
47.3±14.6Highest 22% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Belgrade and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±8.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belgrade 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 3% above U.S. |
$51,197±$4k 37% below U.S. |
$88,338±$13kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Belgrade 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±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$170,300±$22kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$312,200±$44k 6% below U.S. |
$201,000±$18k 40% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,002±$107 29% below U.S. |
$857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$919±$79 35% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474 21% below U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$2,859 8% below U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.2%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Belgrade 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | #71 of 133 in ME | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | — | RSU 18 | 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.