Compare towns
Hallowell vs Mapleton vs Sutton 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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).
Damariscotta has the most expensive homes ($364k median).
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 | Mapleton | Sutton | Damariscotta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,592Highest |
1,884Lowest |
2,239 |
2,192 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.9Highest 29% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
49.3±8.6 27% above U.S. |
| Hallowell and Damariscotta 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Sutton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hallowell and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$59,423±$11kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,300±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$362,600±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$363,500±$42kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Damariscotta and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$175 37% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,027±$88 27% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867 24% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$3,806 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hallowell and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 02 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Kearsarge Regional School District | Great Salt Bay CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.