What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k 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	Exeter
People
Population	2,192Highest	1,093Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.3±8.6Lowest 10% above ME	52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME
	Exeter 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%	9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	31.2%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4%	23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Damariscotta and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	15%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Exeter 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	$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,500±$42kHighest 23% above ME	$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,027±$88Highest 10% below ME	$995±$386Lowest 13% below ME
	Damariscotta and Exeter 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	$1,602Lowest 47% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Damariscotta and Exeter 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%	8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70%Lowest ME: 74.3%	93.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME	1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 6% below ME	35 minHighest 43% above ME
Work from home	13.2%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9%	10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Damariscotta and Exeter 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.