Compare towns
Manchester vs Damariscotta vs Augusta
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
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%).
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k 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 | Manchester | Damariscotta | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,424 |
2,192Lowest |
19,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.9±4.6 5% above ME |
49.3±8.6Highest 10% above ME |
42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below 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%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6Lowest 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%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Augusta and Manchester 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±$11k 20% below ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,600±$40k about the ME average |
$363,500±$42kHighest 23% above ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below 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±$116 13% below ME |
$1,027±$88Highest 10% below ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% 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 | $3,486 15% above ME |
$3,806Highest 25% above ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±18.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Damariscotta and Augusta 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% ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 19% below ME |
23 minHighest 6% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.2%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Augusta 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 | — | — | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 38 | Great Salt Bay CSD | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 17.9 |
| 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.