Compare towns
Bremen vs Belfast 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 people working from home (22.7%).
Belfast has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Damariscotta has the youngest population (median age 49.3).
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 | Belfast | Damariscotta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 917Lowest |
6,986Highest |
2,192 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.1±8.2 16% above ME |
60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
49.3±8.6Lowest 10% above ME |
| Belfast 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% |
14.2%±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%±9.9 ME: 22.4% |
39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Belfast and Bremen 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% |
42.9% ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Bremen and Damariscotta 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 |
$67,679±$9k 9% below ME |
$59,423±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,300±$28kHighest 43% above ME |
$340,900±$34kLowest 15% 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 | — | $962±$92Lowest 16% below ME |
$1,027±$88Highest 10% below ME |
| Damariscotta and Belfast 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 |
$4,145Highest 37% above ME |
$3,806 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
47.4%±14.4 ME: 48.4% |
68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Damariscotta and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
70% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
23 minHighest 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 22.7%±6.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
12%±6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.2%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Bremen and Damariscotta 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 | — | #84 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 71 | Great Salt Bay CSD |
| High school in town | — | Belfast Area High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.