Compare towns
Newcastle vs Ogunquit vs Hermon vs Damariscotta
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newcastle has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Hermon has the youngest population (median age 41.1).
Damariscotta has the most renters (30% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Hermon | Damariscotta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,913 |
1,379Lowest |
6,727Highest |
2,192 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+19.3% ME: +2.6% |
+3.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±7 10% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
41.1±4.7Lowest 8% below ME |
49.3±8.6 10% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.6%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Hermon and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±1.4 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
37.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Hermon and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,868±$33k 20% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$96,629±$22k 29% above ME |
$59,423±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,000±$41k 34% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$333,600±$32kLowest 12% above ME |
$363,500±$42k 23% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,363±$81 20% above ME |
— | $1,406±$202Highest 23% above ME |
$1,027±$88Lowest 10% below ME |
| Hermon and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,256 40% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,761Lowest 9% below ME |
$3,806 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.8%±16.2 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
28.2%±19.1 ME: 48.4% |
68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Damariscotta and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
11.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
75.2% ME: 74.3% |
70%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
2000Highest 23 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 30% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.2%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.2%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #54 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | — | Hermon Public Schools | Great Salt Bay CSD |
| High school in town | — | — | Hermon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.