Compare towns
Bristol vs Ogunquit vs Harpswell vs Boothbay
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 kids (13.9% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Boothbay has the shortest commute (13 min average).
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 | Ogunquit | Harpswell | Boothbay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,917 |
1,379Lowest |
5,046Highest |
3,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 61±3.2 36% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
62±1.5 38% above ME |
56.8±3.9Lowest 27% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Bristol and Boothbay 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
35.4%±7.8Lowest 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% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
52.9% ME: 36.2% |
51.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
6%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Boothbay and Ogunquit 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$96,250±$15k 29% above ME |
$60,320±$17kLowest 19% below 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$609,700±$60k 106% above ME |
$342,100±$43kLowest 15% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME |
— | $1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME |
$1,147±$121 about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,668 12% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,141 3% above ME |
$2,202Lowest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5 ME: 48.4% |
30.4%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Boothbay 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
78.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 28% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
13 minLowest 46% below ME |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
5.7%±2.8Lowest 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 | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — |
| 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.