What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).

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	Wayne
People
Population	2,192Highest	1,101Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.3±8.6Lowest 10% above ME	55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME
	Wayne 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%	13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Damariscotta and Wayne 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%	29.2%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Damariscotta and Wayne 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%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,423±$11kLowest 20% below ME	$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME
	Wayne 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	$362,800±$29kLowest 22% above ME
	Damariscotta and Wayne 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	$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME
	Damariscotta and Wayne 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	$3,289Lowest 8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4%	25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Damariscotta and Wayne 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%	7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 6% below ME	30 minHighest 24% above ME
Work from home	13.2%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Wayne and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Great Salt Bay CSD	RSU 38
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.