Compare towns
Bristol vs Gray vs Mapleton vs Kennebunkport
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).
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Kennebunkport has the most expensive homes ($741k 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 | Gray | Mapleton | Kennebunkport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,917 |
8,429Highest |
1,884Lowest |
3,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% ME: +2.6% |
+6.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 61±3.2Highest 36% above ME |
43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
59.1±5 32% above ME |
| Bristol and Kennebunkport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
19%±4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
8%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Gray 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% |
19.3%±4 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
36.9%±8 ME: 22.4% |
| Bristol and Kennebunkport 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% |
44.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Gray and Mapleton 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 35% above ME |
$95,236±$8k 27% above ME |
$91,731±$25kLowest 23% above ME |
$102,747±$30kHighest 37% above ME |
| Kennebunkport and Bristol 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 |
$363,700±$20k 23% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$740,500±$109kHighest 150% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,051±$106 8% below ME |
$1,371±$89 20% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,429±$296Highest 25% above ME |
| Kennebunkport and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,668 12% below ME |
$3,683 21% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,914Highest 29% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25.8%±20.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Gray and Kennebunkport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.4% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 28% below ME |
29 min 16% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
34 minHighest 38% above ME |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3 ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
31.6%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunkport 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | — | #42 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bristol Public Schools | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— | — |
| 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.