Compare towns
Bristol vs Mapleton vs Windham 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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k 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 | Mapleton | Windham | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,917 |
1,884Lowest |
19,188Highest |
5,046 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 61±3.2 36% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% below 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%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Windham 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%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest 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% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.2% ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Windham 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 |
$91,731±$25kLowest 23% above ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$96,250±$15k 29% above ME |
| Windham 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 37% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$388,900±$22k 31% above ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,051±$106 8% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME |
| Harpswell and Windham 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,938Highest 30% above ME |
$3,141 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Windham and Harpswell 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% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 28% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Bristol and Harpswell 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 | — | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Bristol Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 14 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.