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).
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.
| Measure | Bristol | Kennebunk | Ogunquit | Newcastle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,917 |
11,820Highest |
1,379Lowest |
1,913 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 61±3.2 36% above ME |
54.6±3.3 22% 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% |
17.7%±3 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.8%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Newcastle and Kennebunk 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%±4 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% |
51.2% 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% |
2.7%±1.4 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 |
$107,804±$8k 44% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$89,868±$33kLowest 20% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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 |
$487,700±$21k 64% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$398,000±$41kLowest 34% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME |
$1,425±$290Highest 25% 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 |
$4,999Highest 65% 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% |
37.1%±10.9Highest 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% |
7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 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 |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
17 minLowest 30% below ME |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3 ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6 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 | RSU 21 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.