Sidney offers peaceful living near the Belgrade Lakes region
Sidney is a town in Kennebec County about 12 miles north of Augusta . It is a growing community approaching 5,000 on the edge of the Belgrade Lakes region. Sidney’s location between Messalonskee Lake and the Kennebec River provides an abundance of bass fishing and birdwatching spots. “It’s all about the water—that’s what draws people there,” says Amy Wilbur, a native Mainer and broker at Lakepoint at Portside Real Estate Group, who specializes in the Belgrade Lakes region. “There’s certainly some hiking, closer to Belgrade and Rome, which have a lot of conservation land.” Sidney has working farms and dense patches of trees throughout the rural community. The overall CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, much lower than the national average of 4.
Fishing, swimming and hiking in Sidney
Messalonskee Lake’s shoreline is largely taken up by private properties, but locals can find public lake access at Oakland Waterfront Park in the neighboring town of Oakland . This park has spots for swimming, picnicking and grilling and hosts summer concerts on Thursday evenings. There’s a boat launch leading into Messalonskee Lake at the end of Hosta Lane and a boat launch accessing the Kennebec River at the end of Recreation Drive. Anglers can fish for bass in both bodies of water, where they may also see loons or bald eagles. Meanwhile, folks playing at Sidney’s DND Disc Golf might spot deer while on the heavily wooded course. Hikers can pick up a few trails in the southwestern corner of town, one of which leads through the woods to Tyler Pond, another swimming and fishing area.
New construction and 20th-century builds near Messalonskee Lake
Homes in Sidney sit on spacious, grassy lots surrounded by trees, fields and bodies of water. Colonial Revivals, ranch-style and New England-style homes with gabled roofs and symmetrical designs are spaced out along low-traffic roads, granting privacy. About 87% of homes are owner-occupied. Prices range from about $260,000 to $1 million, with views of Messalonskee Lake fetching top prices. The median single-family home sale price is about $470,000 and the median year built is 2007. Many homes were built between the 1990s and 2025. However, older homes built in the second half of the 20th century tend to be priced at $330,000 and under; those at the low end of the price range typically sit on one or two acres.
Students may attend RSU 18 schools
Regional School Unit 18 (RSU 18) serves the community. Niche rates it B overall and ranks it as the second-best district in Kennebec County. Elementary students may begin at A-minus-rated James H. Bean School before advancing to Messalonskee Middle School, rated B and Messalonskee High, rated B-minus. Maine Arts Academy, also rated B-minus, is a public charter school serving grades seven through twelve. It is the only free, public high school for the arts in Maine and Niche ranks it the third best high school for the arts in the state. Pathways range from music to visual arts to dance.
Entertainment at Snow Pond Center for the Arts
Snow Pond Center for the Arts by Messalonskee Lake is a regional hub for music and fun. It’s home to the Bowl-in-the-Pines amphitheater, one of the biggest and oldest outdoor stages in the country. Nestled in the woods, this 7,000-seat venue hosts local artists and nationally known musicians like Maren Morris. The New England Music Camp at the Snow Pond Center for the Arts brings musically inclined kids to Messalonskee Lake every summer.
Shopping and dining in Sidney and Augusta
Middle Road General Store & Bakery is a convenience store in the center of town serving hot meals and carrying groceries and homemade baked treats. Sidney residents can get locally made goods at Bacon Farm Maple Products and fresh goat cheese from Kennebec Cheesery. Otherwise, stores like Hannaford and Walmart are clustered in Waterville to the north. To the south, Augusta has national chains like Kohl’s and The Home Depot, along with The Red Barn, a popular, pet-friendly pit stop serving fried fish and lobster rolls with indoor and outdoor seating.
Driving through Kennebec County
Sidney is a car-dependent community with no public transportation options. Interstate 95 stretches north-south through Sidney paralleled by U.S. Route 201 on the other side of the Kennebec River; both lead south into Augusta. State Route 27 briefly runs through town, taking drivers further into the Belgrade Lakes region. Medical and emergency care is available at MaineGeneral Medical Center, a few miles south. Bangor International Airport is about 65 miles northeast.
