Compare towns
Damariscotta vs Damariscotta vs Rangeley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Damariscotta has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Damariscotta has the most people working from home (13.2%).
Rangeley has the oldest population (median age 64.3).
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 | Damariscotta | Damariscotta | Rangeley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,100 |
2,192Highest |
792Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5% ME: +2.6% |
+3.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.1±8.2 34% above ME |
49.3±8.6Lowest 10% above ME |
64.3±3.2Highest 44% above ME |
| Rangeley and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±6 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
3.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Damariscotta and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.9%±7.4 ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
49.1%±10.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Rangeley and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
33.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
0%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Damariscotta and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,647±$19kHighest 9% below ME |
$59,423±$11k 20% below ME |
$58,243±$23kLowest 22% below ME |
| Damariscotta and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $419,100±$69k 41% above ME |
$363,500±$42kLowest 23% above ME |
$424,700±$47kHighest 43% above ME |
| Rangeley and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $930±$68 18% below ME |
$1,027±$88Highest 10% below ME |
$671±$119Lowest 41% below ME |
| Damariscotta and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,813Highest 26% above ME |
$3,806 25% above ME |
$2,482Lowest 18% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±27.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
62.6%±31.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Damariscotta and Rangeley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.9% ME: 10.7% |
1.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
70% ME: 74.3% |
72.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1969 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 37% below ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
41 minHighest 65% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.5%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
13.2%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.1%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Damariscotta and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Great Salt Bay CSD | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.