Compare towns
Bremen vs Exeter vs Wayne vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bremen has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
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 | Bremen | Exeter | Wayne | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 917Lowest |
1,093 |
1,101 |
2,917Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
+2.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.1±8.2Lowest 16% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
55.6±5.3 24% above ME |
61±3.2Highest 36% above ME |
| Bristol and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Bremen and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.1%±9.9 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bristol and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8% ME: 36.2% |
52.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,000±$21k 34% above ME |
$84,408±$12kLowest 13% above ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
$100,750±$19kHighest 35% above ME |
| Bristol and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,300±$28kHighest 43% above ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$362,800±$29k 22% above ME |
$406,400±$54k 37% above ME |
| Bremen and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $995±$386 13% below ME |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,051±$106Highest 8% below ME |
| Bristol and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,829 7% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$2,668 12% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
23.4%±19.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Exeter and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 13% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
| Work from home | 22.7%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
25%±8.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #16 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | — | RSU 38 | Bristol Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.