What stands out worked out from the figures below

Damariscotta has the most kids (19.4% under 18).

Hallowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).

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	Hallowell
People
Population	2,192Lowest	2,592Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+7.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.3±8.6Lowest 10% above ME	50.3±7.9Highest 12% above ME
	Hallowell 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%	13.2%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Damariscotta and Hallowell 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%	33.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Hallowell and Damariscotta 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%	52.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Hallowell 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	$68,398±$10kHighest 8% below ME
	Hallowell 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±$42kHighest 23% above ME	$295,300±$45kLowest about the ME average
	Damariscotta and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,027±$88Highest 10% below ME	$890±$175Lowest 22% below ME
	Damariscotta and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,806Lowest 25% above ME	$3,867Highest 27% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4%	37.1%±17.9Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Damariscotta and Hallowell 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%	7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70%Highest ME: 74.3%	58.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME	1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 6% below ME	14 minLowest 43% below ME
Work from home	13.2%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	19.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9%
	Hallowell 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 02
High school in town	None 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.