What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boothbay has the most kids (11.5% under 18).

South Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26.3%).

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	Boothbay	South Bristol
People
Population	3,102Highest	1,069Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+26.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	56.8±3.9Highest 27% above ME	46.4±10.2Lowest 4% above ME
	Boothbay and South Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.5%±3.8Highest ME: 18.1%	8.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Boothbay and South Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	35.4%±7.8Highest ME: 22.4%	30.7%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Boothbay and South Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	62%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6%±3.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	14.6%±0.3Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$60,320±$17kLowest 19% below ME	$69,211±$16kHighest 7% below ME
	South Bristol and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$342,100±$43kLowest 15% above ME	$469,200±$80kHighest 58% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,147±$121Lowest about the ME average	$1,347±$65Highest 18% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,202Highest 27% below ME	$1,675Lowest 45% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.4%±31Highest ME: 48.4%	15%±16.4Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Boothbay and South Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 1 yr older than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	13 minLowest 46% below ME	17 minHighest 32% below ME
Work from home	5.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	23.8%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district	—	South Bristol Public Schools
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.