Compare towns

Sidney vs Wolfeboro vs Augusta vs Durham

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%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Durham has the most homeowners (95.4%).

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.

MeasureSidneyWolfeboroAugustaDurham
People
Population
4,790
6,571
19,077Highest
4,262Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43±5.5
11% above U.S.
57±1.8Highest
47% above U.S.
42.5±2.4Lowest
9% above U.S.
42.6±5.9
10% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.1%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.7%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
19.7%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
34.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.5%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
33.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
45%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Durham 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.
$94,375±$22k
17% above U.S.
$47,979±$3kLowest
41% below U.S.
$99,181±$5kHighest
23% above U.S.
Durham and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$336,200±$34k
about the U.S. average
$546,500±$60kHighest
64% above U.S.
$201,000±$18kLowest
40% below U.S.
$322,200±$34k
3% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,340±$304Highest
5% below U.S.
$1,103±$76
22% below U.S.
$919±$79Lowest
35% below U.S.
—
Sidney and Wolfeboro 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.
$4,531Highest
45% above U.S.
$2,465Lowest
21% below U.S.
$3,781
21% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.4%±17.5
U.S.: 51.1%
12%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.2%±8.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25%±40.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Augusta and Durham 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%
8.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
53.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
Work from home
14.3%±5.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Wolfeboro and Durham 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 #46 of 120 in NH #119 of 133 in ME #14 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 18 Governor Wentworth Regional School District Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy RSU 05
High school in town None in town Kingswood Regional High School Cony None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Lowest
17.9Highest
—
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.