Compare towns
Newcastle vs Surry 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 most people working from home (20.2%).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Surry | Damariscotta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,913 |
1,836Lowest |
2,192Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±7 10% above ME |
52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
49.3±8.6Lowest 10% above ME |
| Surry and Newcastle 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% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
30.9%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Damariscotta and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
38.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Newcastle and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,868±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$74,508±$12k about the ME average |
$59,423±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
| Newcastle and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,000±$41kHighest 34% above ME |
$296,300±$36kLowest about the ME average |
$363,500±$42k 23% above ME |
| Newcastle and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,363±$81Highest 20% above ME |
$969±$129Lowest 15% below ME |
$1,027±$88 10% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,256Highest 40% above ME |
$1,903Lowest 37% below ME |
$3,806 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.8%±16.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Damariscotta and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7% ME: 10.7% |
11.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 30% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.2%±4.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.2%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Newcastle and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Surry Public Schools | 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 | 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.