Compare towns
Bristol vs Kennebunkport vs Harpswell
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 most kids (13.9% under 18).
Kennebunkport has the most people working from home (31.6%).
Harpswell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Kennebunkport | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,917Lowest |
3,684 |
5,046Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.5% ME: +2.6% |
+6.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 61±3.2 36% above ME |
59.1±5Lowest 32% above ME |
62±1.5Highest 38% 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%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
8%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Bristol and Harpswell 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% |
36.9%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5 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% |
52.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Kennebunkport 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 35% above ME |
$102,747±$30kHighest 37% above ME |
$96,250±$15kLowest 29% above ME |
| Kennebunkport 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±$54kLowest 37% above ME |
$740,500±$109kHighest 150% above ME |
$609,700±$60k 106% above ME |
| Kennebunkport and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME |
$1,429±$296Highest 25% above ME |
$1,348±$53 18% above ME |
| Kennebunkport and Harpswell 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 |
$3,914Highest 29% above ME |
$3,141 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25.8%±20.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Kennebunkport 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% |
4.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 28% below ME |
34 minHighest 38% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3 ME: 15.9% |
31.6%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunkport 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 | #42 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Bristol Public Schools | RSU 21 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.