Compare towns
Damariscotta vs Mapleton 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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Mapleton | Rangeley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,100 |
1,884Highest |
792Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.1±8.2 34% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
3.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
33.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton 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±$19k 9% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$58,243±$23kLowest 22% below ME |
| Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below 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±$68Highest 18% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$671±$119 41% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,813Highest 26% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,482 18% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±27.2 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62.6%±31.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Rangeley and Damariscotta 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
1.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1969 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 37% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
41 minHighest 65% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.5%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.1%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.