What stands out worked out from the figures below

Manchester has the highest household income ($92k).

Damariscotta has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Manchester	Damariscotta
People
Population	2,424Highest	2,192Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+3.6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.9±4.6Lowest 5% above ME	49.3±8.6Highest 10% above ME
	Damariscotta and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	19.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Damariscotta and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	31.2%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	41.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%	2.2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Manchester and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,031±$16kHighest 23% above ME	$59,423±$11kLowest 20% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$299,600±$40kLowest about the ME average	$363,500±$42kHighest 23% above ME
	Damariscotta and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$993±$116Lowest 13% below ME	$1,027±$88Highest 10% below ME
	Damariscotta and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,486Lowest 15% above ME	$3,806Highest 25% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.9%±18.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4%
	Damariscotta and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	11.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85%Highest ME: 74.3%	70%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest same as ME	1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 19% below ME	23 minHighest 6% below ME
Work from home	11.9%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	13.2%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9%
	Damariscotta and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 38	Great Salt Bay CSD
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.