What stands out worked out from the figures below

Damariscotta has the most expensive homes ($364k median).

Castle Hill has the most affordable homes ($145k median).

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	Castle Hill
People
Population	2,192Highest	281Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	49.3±8.6Lowest 10% above ME	57.8±15.8Highest 29% above ME
	Castle Hill and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1%	14.2%±5.8Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Damariscotta and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	44.8%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	26.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8%	2.1%±5.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Damariscotta and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,423±$11kHighest 20% below ME	$54,250±$14kLowest 27% below ME
	Damariscotta and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,500±$42kHighest 23% above ME	$145,300±$18kLowest 51% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,027±$88Highest 10% below ME	$950±$574Lowest 17% below ME
	Damariscotta and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,806Highest 25% above ME	$1,449Lowest 52% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.2%±22.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	75%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Castle Hill and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70%Lowest ME: 74.3%	94.3%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 6% below ME	19 minLowest 24% below ME
Work from home	13.2%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9%	10.3%±9.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Damariscotta and Castle Hill 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 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.