What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Manchester has the highest household income ($92k).

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	Manchester
People
Population	2,192Lowest	2,424Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.3±8.6Highest 10% above ME	46.9±4.6Lowest 5% above ME
	Damariscotta and Manchester 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%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Damariscotta and Manchester 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%	22.6%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	47.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	2.7%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%
	Manchester 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	$92,031±$16kHighest 23% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,500±$42kHighest 23% above ME	$299,600±$40kLowest about the ME average
	Damariscotta and Manchester 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	$993±$116Lowest 13% below ME
	Damariscotta and Manchester 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	$3,486Lowest 15% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4%	30.9%±18.6Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Damariscotta and Manchester 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%	4.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME	1977Lowest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 6% below ME	20 minLowest 19% below ME
Work from home	13.2%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9%	11.9%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Damariscotta and Manchester 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 38
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.