Compare towns
Bristol vs Ogunquit vs Sutton vs Harpswell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Sutton has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
Harpswell has the most renters (16.7% rent).
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 | Sutton | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,917 |
1,379Lowest |
9,452Highest |
5,046 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 61±3.2 57% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
62±1.5 59% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.8%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit and Sutton 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 25% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$96,250±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $406,400±$54kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$609,700±$60k 83% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,051±$106Lowest 26% below U.S. |
— | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,348±$53Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Harpswell and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,668Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,141 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.9%±5.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Bristol Public Schools | — | Sutton | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.