What are the schools like in Damariscotta, ME?

Damariscotta is served primarily by Great Salt Bay CSD. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.8:1.

What is the median household income in Damariscotta?

The median household income in Damariscotta, ME is $53,571 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.6%.

What is the weather like in Damariscotta, ME?

Damariscotta has an average high temperature of 30.1°F in January and 78.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 49.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 78.7 inches.

Damariscotta, ME Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Damariscotta, ME affordable or expensive?

Damariscotta's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Damariscotta is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $296,700 and the median rent is $943 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Damariscotta, ME?

Damariscotta has a violent crime rate of 86.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1257.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Damariscotta, ME a Good Place to Live?

Damariscotta is a small town of 1,267 in Maine, with a median household income of $53,571 and a 7.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Damariscotta stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Damariscotta is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Damariscotta city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 97.9

Damariscotta's overall cost of living index is 97.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Damariscotta costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Damariscotta, ME	National Avg
Median Home Value	$296,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$943	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	53.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$53,571	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Damariscotta's violent crime rate is 86.7 per 100,000 residents — 77% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

86.7 /100k

Property Crime

1257.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Damariscotta is served primarily by Great Salt Bay CSD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Damariscotta, ME	National Avg
School District	Great Salt Bay CSD	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	42.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Damariscotta sees average highs of 30.1°F in January and 78.3°F in July, with 49.2 inches of annual precipitation and 78.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Damariscotta, ME
Average High — January	30.1°F
Average High — July	78.3°F
Annual Precipitation	49.2"
Annual Snowfall	78.7"

Demographics

Metric	Damariscotta, ME	National Avg
Population	1,267	—
Median Age	42.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	25.0%	22.2%
65 and over	35.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Newcastle, ME 2 mi Wiscasset, ME 8 mi Waldoboro, ME 9 mi Boothbay Harbor, ME 12 mi Richmond, ME 15 mi

ZIP Codes in Damariscotta

Damariscotta, ME is covered by 1 ZIP code:

04543

Damariscotta vs Other Cities

Damariscotta, ME vs Newcastle, ME Damariscotta, ME vs Wiscasset, ME Damariscotta, ME vs Waldoboro, ME Damariscotta, ME vs Boothbay Harbor, ME Damariscotta, ME vs Richmond, ME

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Damariscotta, ME affordable or expensive?

Damariscotta's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Damariscotta roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $296,700 and median rent is $943/month.

What is the crime rate in Damariscotta, ME?

Damariscotta's violent crime rate is 86.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1257.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Damariscotta?

Public schools in Damariscotta are operated by Great Salt Bay CSD. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.8:1. 42.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Damariscotta, ME a good place to live?

Damariscotta, ME has a population of 1,267, a median household income of $53,571, and an unemployment rate of 7.6%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Damariscotta?

Damariscotta averages 30.1°F in January and 78.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.2 inches with about 78.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Damariscotta?

Damariscotta, ME is covered by 1 ZIP code: 04543.

What is the population of Damariscotta?

The population of Damariscotta, Maine is 1,267 with a median age of 42.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Damariscotta?

Key numbers for living in Damariscotta: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $296,700, median household income $53,571, crime index 38 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Damariscotta side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.