Compare towns
Bristol vs Douglas vs Harpswell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Douglas has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
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 | Douglas | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,917Lowest |
9,207Highest |
5,046 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 61±3.2 57% above U.S. |
44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Harpswell and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 42.8%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,750±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$96,250±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $406,400±$54kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$609,700±$60kHighest 83% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,051±$106Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,348±$53 5% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,668Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$3,141 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.9%±5.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Douglas and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bristol and Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Bristol Public Schools | Douglas | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.