What stands out worked out from the figures below

Unity has the highest household income ($88k).

Damariscotta has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Unity	Damariscotta
People
Population	1,375Lowest	2,192Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S.	49.3±8.6Lowest 27% above U.S.
	Unity and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.4%±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+	34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	31.2%±4.3Lowest 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+	21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Damariscotta and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S.	$59,423±$11kLowest 26% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S.	$363,500±$42kHighest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,027±$88Lowest 27% below U.S.
	Unity and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,394Highest 73% above U.S.	$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Lowest 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	6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.	23 minLowest 12% below U.S.
Work from home	9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Damariscotta and Unity 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

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.