Compare towns
Bristol vs Kennebunk vs Woolwich
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).
Kennebunk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Woolwich has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
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 | Woolwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,917Lowest |
11,820Highest |
3,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 61±3.2Highest 36% above ME |
54.6±3.3Lowest 22% above ME |
55.8±5.5 25% above ME |
| Bristol and Woolwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3Highest ME: 18.1% |
15%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Kennebunk and Woolwich 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% |
30%±4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
33.9%±8.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bristol and Woolwich 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Kennebunk and Woolwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,750±$19kLowest 35% above ME |
$107,804±$8kHighest 44% above ME |
$102,175±$26k 37% above ME |
| Kennebunk and Woolwich 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±$21kHighest 64% above ME |
$254,500±$59kLowest 14% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME |
$1,425±$290Highest 25% above ME |
— |
| Kennebunk and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,668 12% below ME |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
$2,433Lowest 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9 ME: 48.4% |
64.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Woolwich and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
13.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 28% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3 ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunk and Bristol 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 | #92 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bristol Public Schools | RSU 21 | RSU 01 - LKRSU |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.