Compare towns
Hallowell vs Starks vs Damariscotta
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hallowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
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 | Starks | Damariscotta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,592Highest |
556Lowest |
2,192 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.9Highest 12% above ME |
46.7±9.4Lowest 4% above ME |
49.3±8.6 10% above ME |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Damariscotta and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| 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 ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Hallowell and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,398±$10kHighest 8% below ME |
$63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
$59,423±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
| Hallowell and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,300±$45k about the ME average |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$363,500±$42kHighest 23% above ME |
| Damariscotta and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$175Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
$1,027±$88 10% below ME |
| Starks and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867Highest 27% above ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$3,806 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±17.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Damariscotta and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 43% below ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.2%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Hallowell and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 02 | — | Great Salt Bay CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.