What stands out worked out from the figures below

Damariscotta has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

Cushing has the highest household income ($84k).

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	Cushing
People
Population	2,192Highest	1,460Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.3±8.6Highest 10% above ME	48.8±7.7Lowest 9% above ME
	Damariscotta and Cushing 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%	17.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Damariscotta and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.2%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4%	20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	38.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.4%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Cushing and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,423±$11kLowest 20% below ME	$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME
	Cushing and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,500±$42kLowest 23% above ME	$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME
	Cushing and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,027±$88Lowest 10% below ME	$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,806Lowest 25% above ME	$3,944Highest 30% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4%	33.7%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Damariscotta and Cushing 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%	7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70%Lowest ME: 74.3%	84.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 6% below ME	23 minHighest 5% below ME
Work from home	13.2%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Cushing 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	RSU 13
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.