What stands out worked out from the figures below

Damariscotta has the most kids (19.4% under 18).

Rangeley has the oldest population (median age 64.3).

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	Rangeley
People
Population	2,192Highest	792Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+4.6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.3±8.6Lowest 10% above ME	64.3±3.2Highest 44% above ME
Kids under 18	19.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1%	3.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	31.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	49.1%±10.3Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	33.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8%	0%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Damariscotta and Rangeley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,423±$11kHighest 20% below ME	$58,243±$23kLowest 22% below ME
	Damariscotta and Rangeley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,500±$42kLowest 23% above ME	$424,700±$47kHighest 43% above ME
	Rangeley 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	$671±$119Lowest 41% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,806Highest 25% above ME	$2,482Lowest 18% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4%	62.6%±31.2Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Damariscotta and Rangeley 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%	1.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70%Lowest ME: 74.3%	72.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 6% below ME	41 minHighest 65% above ME
Work from home	13.2%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9%	4.1%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Damariscotta and Rangeley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Great Salt Bay CSD	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.