Compare towns
Damariscotta vs Ogunquit vs Wayne 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 the most renters (30% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wayne has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Newcastle has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Ogunquit | Wayne | Newcastle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,192Highest |
1,379 |
1,101Lowest |
1,913 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.6Lowest 10% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
55.6±5.3 24% above ME |
49.4±7 10% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Wayne 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% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
17.8%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Damariscotta and Newcastle 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
48.8% ME: 36.2% |
45.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Ogunquit 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
$89,868±$33k 20% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Wayne 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$362,800±$29kLowest 22% above ME |
$398,000±$41k 34% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$88 10% below ME |
— | $983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,363±$81Highest 20% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806 25% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,289Lowest 8% above ME |
$4,256 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
5.8%±16.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Damariscotta and Wayne 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
3.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
80.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 6% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
17 minLowest 30% below ME |
| Work from home | 13.2%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7 ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Wayne 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 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.