Compare towns
Bristol vs Newcastle 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).
Newcastle has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Wayne has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Newcastle | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,917Highest |
1,913 |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 61±3.2Highest 36% above ME |
49.4±7Lowest 10% 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% |
17.8%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest 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%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
45.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Newcastle 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±$33kLowest 20% 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±$54kHighest 37% above ME |
$398,000±$41k 34% above ME |
$362,800±$29kLowest 22% above ME |
| Bristol and Newcastle 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 |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,668Lowest 12% below ME |
$4,256Highest 40% above ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2 ME: 48.4% |
5.8%±16.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Wayne 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% |
7.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 28% below ME |
17 minLowest 30% below ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3 ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±4.6Lowest 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 38 |
| High school in town | None 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.