Compare towns
Hallowell vs Thomaston 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%).
Thomaston has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
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 | Thomaston | Damariscotta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,592 |
2,769Highest |
2,192Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.9 12% above ME |
58.1±6.6Highest 30% above ME |
49.3±8.6Lowest 10% above ME |
| Thomaston and Hallowell 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% |
19.2%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Damariscotta and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±7.1 ME: 22.4% |
35.5%±8.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Thomaston and Hallowell 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% |
30.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$56,435±$13kLowest 24% below ME |
$59,423±$11k 20% below ME |
| Hallowell and Damariscotta 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 |
$271,700±$10kLowest 8% 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 |
$1,262±$343Highest 11% above ME |
$1,027±$88 10% below ME |
| Thomaston and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867 27% above ME |
$4,487Highest 48% above ME |
$3,806Lowest 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±17.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±23.5 ME: 48.4% |
68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Damariscotta and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
73.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
1951 26 yrs older than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 min 43% below ME |
14 minLowest 45% below ME |
23 minHighest 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #99 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 02 | RSU 13 | 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 | 6 photos → |
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.