Compare towns
Damariscotta vs Mapleton vs Strong 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k 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 | Mapleton | Strong | Bremen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,192Highest |
1,884 |
1,249 |
917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.6 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
18.6%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Strong 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
54.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest 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±$11k 20% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$425,300±$28kHighest 43% above ME |
| Bremen and Damariscotta 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
— |
| Damariscotta and Strong 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$2,829 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Damariscotta and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
93.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 6% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 13.2%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
22.7%±6.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Bremen and Strong 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 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | — |
| 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.