Compare towns
Damariscotta vs Readfield 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%).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Bremen has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
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 | Readfield | Bremen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,192 |
2,651Highest |
917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
0%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.6 10% above ME |
48.1±7.6Lowest 7% 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%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
18.6%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Damariscotta and Readfield 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% |
22.3%±4.5Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8% ME: 36.2% |
54.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Readfield 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±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
$86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
$100,000±$21kHighest 34% above ME |
| Bremen and Readfield 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 |
$326,400±$20kLowest 10% above 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±$88Lowest 10% below ME |
$1,125±$844Highest about the ME average |
— |
| Readfield and Damariscotta 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 |
$3,392 12% above ME |
$2,829Lowest 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Damariscotta and Readfield 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% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
93.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 6% below ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 13.2%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
22.7%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Readfield and Bremen 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 | — | #20 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Great Salt Bay CSD | RSU 38 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| 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.