Compare towns
Bristol vs Ogunquit vs Upton 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%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Upton | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,917 |
1,379Lowest |
8,189Highest |
5,046 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% 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. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.8%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 42.8%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest 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% |
53.5% 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% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit and Upton 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$96,250±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton 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. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$609,700±$60k 83% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,051±$106 26% below U.S. |
— | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,348±$53Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,668Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% 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% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.9%±5.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest 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% |
86.7% 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 |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Bristol Public Schools | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.