Compare towns
Bristol vs Harpswell vs Readfield
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).
Harpswell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Readfield has the most kids (18.7% 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 | Harpswell | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,917 |
5,046Highest |
2,651Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% ME: +2.6% |
+6.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
0%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 61±3.2 36% above ME |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
48.1±7.6Lowest 7% 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%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Readfield 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 ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±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% ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Readfield 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±$19kHighest 35% above ME |
$96,250±$15k 29% above ME |
$86,504±$8kLowest 16% 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±$54k 37% above ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
$326,400±$20kLowest 10% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME |
$1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME |
$1,125±$844 about the ME average |
| Harpswell and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,668Lowest 12% below ME |
$3,141 3% above ME |
$3,392Highest 12% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Readfield 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 ME: 10.7% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 28% below ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Bristol and Readfield 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 | — | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bristol Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.