Compare towns
Bristol vs Newcastle vs Vinalhaven
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 most people working from home (25%).
Newcastle has the most kids (17.8% under 18).
Vinalhaven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Vinalhaven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,917Highest |
1,913 |
1,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+9.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 61±3.2 36% above ME |
49.4±7Lowest 10% above ME |
65.1±3.9Highest 45% above ME |
| Vinalhaven 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% |
17.8%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.2%±3.3Lowest 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% |
50.4%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Vinalhaven 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
45.1%Lowest 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% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Newcastle and Vinalhaven 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 |
$89,868±$33k 20% above ME |
$72,963±$11kLowest about the ME average |
| Bristol and Newcastle 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 |
$428,400±$44kHighest 44% above ME |
| Vinalhaven 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 |
$1,363±$81Highest 20% above ME |
$1,017±$924Lowest 11% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,668Lowest 12% below ME |
$4,256Highest 40% above ME |
$3,598 19% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2 ME: 48.4% |
5.8%±16.2Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 9 yrs older than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs 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 |
19 minHighest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Bristol and Newcastle 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 History | 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.