Compare towns
Damariscotta vs Wayne vs Newcastle
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%).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Newcastle has the shortest commute (12 min average).
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 | Wayne | Newcastle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,192Highest |
1,101 |
664Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.6Lowest 10% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
54.8±3.6 22% above ME |
| Wayne and Newcastle 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%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
10.4%±5.4Lowest 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% |
29.4%±14.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Damariscotta and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
40.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,423±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$80,833±$49k 8% above ME |
| Wayne and Newcastle 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 |
$362,800±$29kLowest 22% above ME |
$420,500±$47kHighest 42% above ME |
| Newcastle and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$88 10% below ME |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,219±$448Highest 7% above ME |
| Newcastle and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806 25% above ME |
$3,289Lowest 8% above ME |
$5,278Highest 74% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
18.2%±48.9Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
5.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 6% below ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
12 minLowest 52% below ME |
| Work from home | 13.2%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
20%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Newcastle 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 | 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.