Compare towns

Bristol vs Kennebunk vs Ogunquit vs Newcastle

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 oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Kennebunk has the most renters (26.9% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Newcastle has the youngest population (median age 49.4).

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.

MeasureBristolKennebunkOgunquitNewcastle
People
Population
2,917
6,221Highest
1,379Lowest
1,913
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.9%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+10.8%
ME: +2.6%
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+5.5%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
61±3.2
36% above ME
54.3±7.2
21% above ME
62.8±4.8Highest
40% above ME
49.4±7Lowest
10% above ME
Ogunquit 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%
18.1%±4.2Highest
ME: 18.1%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
17.8%±3.4
ME: 18.1%
Kennebunk and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
42.8%±8.1
ME: 22.4%
30.9%±4.5
ME: 22.4%
43.6%±10.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
24.4%±1.4Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Ogunquit and Bristol 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%
ME: 36.2%
63.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
45.1%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±1.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
2.3%±2.2
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2Highest
ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,750±$19k
35% above ME
$95,169±$21k
27% above ME
$114,259±$56kHighest
53% above ME
$89,868±$33kLowest
20% above ME
Ogunquit 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
$452,800±$17k
53% above ME
$875,700±$79kHighest
195% above ME
$398,000±$41kLowest
34% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,051±$106Lowest
8% below ME
$1,466±$261Highest
29% above ME
—
$1,363±$81
20% above ME
Kennebunk and Newcastle 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
$4,771Highest
57% above ME
$4,473
47% above ME
$4,256
40% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.4%±19.2
ME: 48.4%
40.3%±13.2Highest
ME: 48.4%
0%±61.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
5.8%±16.2
ME: 48.4%
Kennebunk and Bristol 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%
11.2%Highest
ME: 10.7%
3.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
3.5%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.6%
ME: 74.3%
73.1%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
80.6%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
9 yrs older than ME
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
1978
1 yr newer than ME
1984Highest
7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 min
28% below ME
23 min
8% below ME
26 minHighest
7% above ME
17 minLowest
30% below ME
Work from home
25%±8.3
ME: 15.9%
36.6%±10.2
ME: 15.9%
43.3%±12.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
20.2%±4.6Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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 #9 of 133 in ME — —
School district Bristol Public Schools — — —
High school in town None in town — — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.