Compare towns
Damariscotta vs Newcastle vs Ogunquit vs Damariscotta
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
Newcastle has the shortest commute (12 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Damariscotta has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
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 | Newcastle | Ogunquit | Damariscotta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,100 |
664Lowest |
1,379 |
2,192Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5% ME: +2.6% |
-1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.1±8.2 34% above ME |
54.8±3.6 22% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
49.3±8.6Lowest 10% above ME |
| Ogunquit 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% |
10.4%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6Highest 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% |
29.4%±14.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit 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% ME: 36.2% |
40.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit 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 |
$80,833±$49k 8% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$59,423±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Newcastle 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 |
$420,500±$47k 42% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$363,500±$42kLowest 23% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $930±$68Lowest 18% below ME |
$1,219±$448Highest 7% above ME |
— | $1,027±$88 10% below ME |
| Newcastle and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,813 26% above ME |
$5,278Highest 74% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$3,806Lowest 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±27.2 ME: 48.4% |
18.2%±48.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Damariscotta 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% |
5.9% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.9% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 min 37% below ME |
12 minLowest 52% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 8.5%±8.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.2%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | Great Salt Bay CSD |
| High school 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.