Compare towns
Bristol vs Lancaster vs St. George
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).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
St. George has the most affordable homes ($356k 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 | Lancaster | St. George |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,917 |
8,606Highest |
2,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 61±3.2Highest 57% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
58.3±9.8 50% above U.S. |
| Bristol and St. George 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% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 42.8%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
39.2%±8.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol and St. George are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| St. George and Lancaster 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. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$89,155±$10kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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 22% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$356,300±$79kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,051±$106Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,465±$293 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,668Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,359 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±35.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and St. George are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #46 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bristol Public Schools | Nashoba | St George Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.