Compare towns
Damariscotta vs Gray vs Hallowell vs Ogunquit
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 most kids (19.4% under 18).
Gray has the youngest population (median age 43.4).
Hallowell has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Gray | Hallowell | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,192 |
8,429Highest |
2,592 |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.5% ME: +2.6% |
+7.9% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.6 10% above ME |
43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
50.3±7.9 12% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Hallowell 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% |
19%±4 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Damariscotta and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.2%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
33.2%±7.1 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.8% ME: 36.2% |
52.5% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Hallowell and Gray 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 |
$95,236±$8k 27% above ME |
$68,398±$10k 8% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,500±$42k 23% above ME |
$363,700±$20k 23% above ME |
$295,300±$45kLowest about the ME average |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$88 10% below ME |
$1,371±$89Highest 20% above ME |
$890±$175Lowest 22% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806 25% above ME |
$3,683Lowest 21% above ME |
$3,867 27% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24 ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±17.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Damariscotta and Gray 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% |
3.5% ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% ME: 74.3% |
82.4% ME: 74.3% |
58.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 6% below ME |
29 minHighest 16% above ME |
14 minLowest 43% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.2%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #10 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Great Salt Bay CSD | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | RSU 02 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— | — |
| 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.