Compare towns
Bristol vs Mount Desert vs Ogunquit vs Newcastle
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 housing (typical home built 1968).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Newcastle has the most kids (17.8% under 18).
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 | Mount Desert | Ogunquit | Newcastle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,917Highest |
1,671 |
1,379Lowest |
1,913 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.5% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 61±3.2 36% above ME |
54.9±8.2 23% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
49.4±7Lowest 10% above ME |
| Ogunquit 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% |
14.1%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.8%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Newcastle and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 42.8%±8.1 ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Bristol 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% |
64.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
63.5% ME: 36.2% |
45.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±4.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,750±$19k 35% above ME |
$92,813±$9k 24% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$89,868±$33kLowest 20% above ME |
| Ogunquit 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 |
$522,100±$66k 76% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$398,000±$41kLowest 34% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME |
$1,341±$89 18% above ME |
— | $1,363±$81Highest 20% above ME |
| Newcastle and Mount Desert 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 |
$3,512 16% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$4,256 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2 ME: 48.4% |
33.9%±31.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
5.8%±16.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Mount Desert and Bristol 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% |
7.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.8% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1969 8 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 28% below ME |
18 min 27% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
17 minLowest 30% below ME |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3 ME: 15.9% |
19.1%±9.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit 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 | Mount Desert Public Schools | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.