What stands out worked out from the figures below

Damariscotta has the shortest commute (23 min average).

Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

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	Surry
People
Population	2,192Highest	1,836Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.3±8.6Lowest 10% above ME	52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME
	Surry 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%	16.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Damariscotta and Surry 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%	30.9%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Damariscotta and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	38.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8%	2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Damariscotta and Surry 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	$74,508±$12kHighest about the ME average
	Surry and Damariscotta 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	$296,300±$36kLowest about the ME average
	Damariscotta and Surry 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	$969±$129Lowest 15% below ME
	Damariscotta and Surry 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	$1,903Lowest 37% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4%	65.8%±59.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Damariscotta and Surry 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%	7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70%Lowest ME: 74.3%	88.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 6% below ME	31 minHighest 26% above ME
Work from home	13.2%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9%	11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Damariscotta and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Great Salt Bay CSD	Surry Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.