What stands out worked out from the figures below

Damariscotta has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).

Newcastle has the most people working from home (20%).

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	Damariscotta	Newcastle
People
Population	1,100Highest	664Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	60.1±8.2Highest 34% above ME	54.8±3.6Lowest 22% above ME
	Damariscotta and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±6Highest ME: 18.1%	10.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Damariscotta and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	35.9%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4%	29.4%±14.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Damariscotta and Newcastle 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%	40.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8%	1.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Damariscotta and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,647±$19kLowest 9% below ME	$80,833±$49kHighest 8% above ME
	Newcastle 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±$69kLowest 41% above ME	$420,500±$47kHighest 42% above ME
	Newcastle and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$930±$68Lowest 18% below ME	$1,219±$448Highest 7% above ME
	Newcastle and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,813Lowest 26% above ME	$5,278Highest 74% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.2%±27.2Highest ME: 48.4%	18.2%±48.9Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Damariscotta and Newcastle 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%	5.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	84.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minHighest 37% below ME	12 minLowest 52% below ME
Work from home	8.5%±8.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	20%±4.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Newcastle and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.