Compare towns
Bremen vs Exeter vs Sumner 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%).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Exeter | Sumner | Damariscotta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 917 |
1,093 |
845Lowest |
2,192Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.1±8.2 16% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
49.3±8.6Lowest 10% above ME |
| Sumner and Exeter 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 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% |
23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2 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% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Exeter and Bremen 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 |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$59,423±$11k 20% below ME |
| Bremen and Exeter 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 |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below 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 | — | $995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
— | $1,027±$88Highest 10% below ME |
| Damariscotta and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,829 7% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$3,806Highest 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
68.2%±22.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner 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% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
70%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 22.7%±6.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
13.2%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Bremen and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | RSU 10 | Great Salt Bay CSD |
| High school 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.