What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most kids (13.9% under 18).

Harpswell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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	Harpswell
People
Population	2,917Lowest	5,046Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+6.1%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	61±3.2Lowest 36% above ME	62±1.5Highest 38% above ME
	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%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1%	8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Bristol and Harpswell 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%	38.6%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	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%Lowest ME: 36.2%	52.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	1.9%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Harpswell 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	$96,250±$15kLowest 29% above ME
	Bristol and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$406,400±$54kLowest 37% above ME	$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME	$1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,668Lowest 12% below ME	$3,141Highest 3% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4%	24.9%±5.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Harpswell and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME	1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 28% below ME	30 minHighest 20% above ME
Work from home	25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9%	20.7%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Bristol and Harpswell 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	RSU 75/MSAD 75
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.