What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hampden has the highest household income ($112k).

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	Hampden
People
Population	2,192Lowest	7,896Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.3±8.6Highest 10% above ME	41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME
	Damariscotta and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Hampden and Damariscotta 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%	17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	45.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Hampden 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	$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,500±$42kHighest 23% above ME	$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average
	Damariscotta and Hampden 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	$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME
	Hampden and Damariscotta 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	$3,694Lowest 22% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4%	22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	11.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.7%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	23 minLowest 7% below ME
Work from home	13.2%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Hampden and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	Great Salt Bay CSD	RSU 22
High school in town	None in town	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.8
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.