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 (20.2%).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k 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 | Unity | Damariscotta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,913 |
1,375Lowest |
2,192Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±7 27% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
49.3±8.6Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Unity 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 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.2%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 11% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$59,423±$11kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Newcastle and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,000±$41kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$363,500±$42k 9% 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 | $1,363±$81 4% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,027±$88Lowest 27% 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 | $4,256 36% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.8%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.2%±22.9Highest 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 | 3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newcastle and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Unity School District | 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 |
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.