What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Unity has the highest household income ($88k).

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	Unity
People
Population	2,192Highest	1,375Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.3±8.6Lowest 27% above U.S.	58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S.
	Unity 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 U.S.: 22%	12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Damariscotta and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Unity 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Damariscotta and Unity 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 26% below U.S.	$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,500±$42kHighest 9% above U.S.	$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,027±$88Lowest 27% below U.S.	$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S.
	Unity and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S.	$5,394Highest 73% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.2%±22.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Damariscotta and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 12% below U.S.	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.
Work from home	13.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Damariscotta and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Great Salt Bay CSD	Unity School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.