Compare towns
Damariscotta vs Mapleton vs Newcastle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Damariscotta has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Newcastle has the most people working from home (20%).
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 | Mapleton | Newcastle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,192Highest |
1,884 |
664Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.6 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
54.8±3.6Highest 22% above ME |
| Newcastle 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
10.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.4%±14.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Damariscotta and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
40.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$80,833±$49k 8% above ME |
| Mapleton and Newcastle 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$420,500±$47kHighest 42% above ME |
| Newcastle and Damariscotta 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,219±$448Highest 7% above ME |
| Newcastle 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$5,278Highest 74% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
18.2%±48.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Damariscotta and Newcastle 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 6% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
12 minLowest 52% below ME |
| Work from home | 13.2%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20%±4.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Newcastle 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 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.