Compare towns
Bristol vs Biddeford vs Bremen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Biddeford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Bremen has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
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 | Bristol | Biddeford | Bremen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,917 |
22,498Highest |
917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% ME: +2.6% |
+6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 61±3.2Highest 36% above ME |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
52.1±8.2 16% above ME |
| Bristol and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
18.6%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Bremen and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
34.1%±9.9 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+ | 52.7% ME: 36.2% |
32.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
54.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,750±$19kHighest 35% above ME |
$72,333±$4kLowest 3% below ME |
$100,000±$21k 34% 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 | $406,400±$54k 37% above ME |
$396,600±$25kLowest 34% above ME |
$425,300±$28kHighest 43% 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 | $1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME |
$1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,668Lowest 12% below ME |
$4,401Highest 45% above ME |
$2,829 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2 ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Biddeford and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 9 yrs older than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 28% below ME |
24 minHighest 4% below ME |
22 min 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.7%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Bristol and Bremen 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 | #111 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Bristol Public Schools | Biddeford Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Biddeford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.