What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Old Town has the most people working from home (21.4%).

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	Old Town
People
Population	2,192Lowest	7,470Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-5.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.3±8.6Highest 10% above ME	37±1.5Lowest 17% below ME
Kids under 18	19.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	21.8%±4.1Highest ME: 18.1%
	Old Town 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%	16.9%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	36.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	13.2%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,423±$11kHighest 20% below ME	$51,585±$10kLowest 31% below ME
	Damariscotta and Old Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,500±$42kHighest 23% above ME	$208,100±$26kLowest 30% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,027±$88Highest 10% below ME	$989±$100Lowest 13% below ME
	Damariscotta and Old Town 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	$3,153Lowest 4% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4%	50.3%±15Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Damariscotta and Old Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%	21.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70%Highest ME: 74.3%	59.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME	1963Lowest 14 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 6% below ME	20 minLowest 18% below ME
Work from home	13.2%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.4%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Old Town and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#56 of 133 in ME
School district	Great Salt Bay CSD	RSU 34
High school in town	None in town	Old Town High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.8
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.