Compare towns
Bremen vs Appleton vs Wayne vs Damariscotta
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bremen has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Damariscotta has the most renters (30% 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 | Bremen | Appleton | Wayne | Damariscotta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 917Lowest |
1,360 |
1,101 |
2,192Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.1±8.2 16% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
49.3±8.6 10% above ME |
| Wayne and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Damariscotta and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.1%±9.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Bremen and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8% ME: 36.2% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,000±$21kHighest 34% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
$59,423±$11k 20% below ME |
| Bremen and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,300±$28kHighest 43% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$362,800±$29k 22% above ME |
$363,500±$42k 23% above ME |
| Bremen and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,027±$88 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 | $2,829Lowest 7% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$3,806Highest 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
68.2%±22.9 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 | 9.4% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
70%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 22.7%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.2%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 38 | Great Salt Bay CSD |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.