What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

Brooksville has the most renters (14.8% rent).

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	Bristol	Brooksville
People
Population	2,917Highest	853Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	+0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	61±3.2Lowest 36% above ME	61.4±6.3Highest 37% above ME
	Brooksville and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1%	13%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Bristol and Brooksville 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%	41.6%±10.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Bristol and Brooksville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	52.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	2.2%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Brooksville and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,750±$19kHighest 35% above ME	$56,316±$20kLowest 25% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$406,400±$54kHighest 37% above ME	$390,900±$113kLowest 32% above ME
	Bristol and Brooksville 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	$1,307±$68Highest 15% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,668Highest 12% below ME	$1,945Lowest 36% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4%	52.9%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4%
	Brooksville 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%	8.1%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	85.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 28% below ME	21 minHighest 15% below ME
Work from home	25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9%	16.7%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Bristol and Brooksville 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	Bristol Public Schools	Brooksville Public Schools
High school in town	None 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.