Compare towns
Newcastle vs Unity 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
Newcastle has the most people working from home (20%).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Damariscotta has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).
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 | Newcastle | Unity | Damariscotta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 664Lowest |
1,375Highest |
1,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.8±3.6Lowest 41% above U.S. |
58±4.5 49% above U.S. |
60.1±8.2Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Damariscotta and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.4%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Damariscotta and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±14.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.9%±7.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Damariscotta and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Damariscotta and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$49k about the U.S. average |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$67,647±$19kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Unity and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,500±$47kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$419,100±$69k 26% above U.S. |
| Newcastle and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$448 14% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$930±$68Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Unity and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,278 69% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,813Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±48.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Damariscotta and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 12 minLowest 55% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Unity School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.