Compare towns
Bristol vs Harpswell vs Upton
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).
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,917Lowest |
5,046 |
8,189Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 61±3.2 57% above U.S. |
62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% 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% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 42.8%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Upton 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. |
$96,250±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $406,400±$54kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$609,700±$60kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
| Harpswell and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,051±$106 26% below U.S. |
$1,348±$53Highest 5% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,668Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,141 about the U.S. average |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.9%±5.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bristol and Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bristol Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
| 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.