Compare towns
Damariscotta vs Hope vs Mapleton vs Bremen
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 renters (30% rent).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Bremen has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Hope | Mapleton | Bremen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,192Highest |
1,748 |
1,884 |
917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.6 10% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
52.1±8.2Highest 16% above ME |
| Bremen and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
18.6%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Mapleton 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% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
34.1%±9.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bremen 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% ME: 36.2% |
47.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
54.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Bremen 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 |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$100,000±$21kHighest 34% above ME |
| Bremen and Mapleton 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 |
$373,400±$33k 26% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$425,300±$28kHighest 43% above ME |
| Bremen and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$88 10% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— |
| Hope and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806 25% above ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,829 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Damariscotta and Hope 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% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
93.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 6% below ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
22 min 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 13.2%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.7%±6.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Bremen and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Great Salt Bay CSD | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.