Compare towns
Bristol vs Mapleton vs Mount Desert vs Wayne
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 population (median age 61).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Mount Desert has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Mapleton | Mount Desert | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,917Highest |
1,884 |
1,671 |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 61±3.2Highest 36% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
54.9±8.2 23% above ME |
55.6±5.3 24% above ME |
| Bristol and Wayne 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.1%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Mount Desert 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
64.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
48.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±4.1 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,750±$19kHighest 35% above ME |
$91,731±$25kLowest 23% above ME |
$92,813±$9k 24% above ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
| Bristol and Wayne 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$522,100±$66kHighest 76% above ME |
$362,800±$29k 22% above ME |
| Mount Desert and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,051±$106 8% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,341±$89Highest 18% above ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,668 12% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,512Highest 16% above ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.9%±31.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Mount Desert and Wayne 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% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.4% ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.8% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1969 8 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 28% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
18 min 27% below ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.1%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Bristol Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Mount Desert Public Schools | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.