Compare towns
Damariscotta vs Unity vs Blue Hill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Damariscotta has the most renters (30% rent).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Blue Hill has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Unity | Blue Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,192 |
1,375Lowest |
2,813Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.6 27% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
48.6±8.2Lowest 25% 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% |
18.3%±7 U.S.: 22% |
| Damariscotta and Blue Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.2%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.6%±10.2Lowest 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% |
38.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Blue Hill and Damariscotta 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. |
$80,377±$17k about the U.S. average |
| Unity and Blue Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,500±$42k 9% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$399,500±$82kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Blue Hill 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 27% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,038±$638 27% below U.S. |
| Unity and Blue Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806 22% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$2,907Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.2%±22.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
93.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blue Hill and Damariscotta 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.2%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±9.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Blue Hill 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 | — | — | #29 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Great Salt Bay CSD | Unity School District | Blue Hill Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.