What stands out worked out from the figures below

Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

Damariscotta has the most expensive homes ($364k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Appleton	Damariscotta
People
Population	1,360Lowest	2,192Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	+3.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME	49.3±8.6Highest 10% above ME
	Damariscotta and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	19.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Damariscotta and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	31.2%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Damariscotta and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%	41.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8%	2.2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Appleton and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME	$59,423±$11kHighest 20% below ME
	Damariscotta and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME	$363,500±$42kHighest 23% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME	$1,027±$88Lowest 10% below ME
	Appleton and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Lowest 18% above ME	$3,806Highest 25% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	68.2%±22.9Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Appleton and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	11.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	70%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 23% above ME	23 minLowest 6% below ME
Work from home	11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	13.2%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9%
	Damariscotta and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Appleton Public Schools	Great Salt Bay CSD
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.