What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cushing has the highest household income ($84k).

Damariscotta has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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	Cushing	Damariscotta
People
Population	1,460Lowest	2,192Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+3.6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.8±7.7Lowest 9% above ME	49.3±8.6Highest 10% above ME
	Damariscotta and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%	19.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Damariscotta and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	31.2%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	41.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%	2.2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Cushing and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME	$59,423±$11kLowest 20% below ME
	Cushing and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME	$363,500±$42kLowest 23% above ME
	Cushing and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME	$1,027±$88Lowest 10% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,944Highest 30% above ME	$3,806Lowest 25% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.7%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4%
	Damariscotta and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	11.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	70%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME	1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 5% below ME	23 minLowest 6% below ME
Work from home	18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9%	13.2%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Cushing and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 13	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.