Compare towns
Hallowell vs Hampton Falls vs Damariscotta
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hallowell has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Damariscotta has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
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 | Hallowell | Hampton Falls | Damariscotta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,592Highest |
2,328 |
2,192Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.9Highest 29% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
49.3±8.6Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Hallowell and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Damariscotta and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.2%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hallowell and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hallowell and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,398±$10k 15% below U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$59,423±$11kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,300±$45kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$363,500±$42k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$175Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,027±$88 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867 24% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.2%±22.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Damariscotta and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 02 | Hampton Falls School District | Great Salt Bay CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.