Compare towns
Newcastle vs Ogunquit vs Wayne 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%).
Wayne has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
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 | Wayne | Damariscotta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,913 |
1,379 |
1,101Lowest |
2,192Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±7 10% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
55.6±5.3 24% above ME |
49.3±8.6Lowest 10% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Damariscotta and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8 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% |
48.8% ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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 |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
$59,423±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Wayne 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 |
$362,800±$29kLowest 22% above ME |
$363,500±$42k 23% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,363±$81Highest 20% above ME |
— | $983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,027±$88 10% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,256 40% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,289Lowest 8% above 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% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Damariscotta and Wayne 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% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
11.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
70%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 30% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.2%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7 ME: 15.9% |
13.2%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Wayne 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 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.