Compare towns
Bristol vs Newcastle vs Ogunquit vs Vinalhaven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newcastle has the most kids (17.8% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Vinalhaven has the oldest population (median age 65.1).
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 | Newcastle | Ogunquit | Vinalhaven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,917Highest |
1,913 |
1,379 |
1,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 61±3.2 36% above ME |
49.4±7Lowest 10% above ME |
62.8±4.8 40% above ME |
65.1±3.9Highest 45% above ME |
| Vinalhaven and Ogunquit 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% |
17.8%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
11.2%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Newcastle and Bristol 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% |
24.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1 ME: 22.4% |
50.4%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Vinalhaven and Ogunquit 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% |
45.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
45.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,750±$19k 35% above ME |
$89,868±$33k 20% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$72,963±$11kLowest about the ME average |
| 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 |
$398,000±$41kLowest 34% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$428,400±$44k 44% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,051±$106 8% below ME |
$1,363±$81Highest 20% above ME |
— | $1,017±$924Lowest 11% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,668Lowest 12% below ME |
$4,256 40% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,598 19% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2 ME: 48.4% |
5.8%±16.2 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.6%±41.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Vinalhaven 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% |
3.5% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 9 yrs older than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 28% below ME |
17 minLowest 30% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
19 min 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3 ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±5.8Lowest 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 | — | — | — |
| High school 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.