Compare towns
Bristol vs Ogunquit vs Vinalhaven vs Wells
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Vinalhaven has the oldest population (median age 65.1).
Wells has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 | Vinalhaven | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,917 |
1,379 |
1,216Lowest |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.8% ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 61±3.2 36% above ME |
62.8±4.8 40% above ME |
65.1±3.9Highest 45% above ME |
53.6±3.8Lowest 20% above ME |
| Vinalhaven and Ogunquit 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% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
11.2%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Wells 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% |
43.6%±10.1 ME: 22.4% |
50.4%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Vinalhaven and Ogunquit 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% |
45.7% ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wells 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 |
$72,963±$11kLowest about the ME average |
$88,024±$11k 18% above 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±$54kLowest 37% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$428,400±$44k 44% above ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,051±$106 8% below ME |
— | $1,017±$924Lowest 11% below ME |
$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
| Wells and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,668Lowest 12% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,598 19% above ME |
$3,215 6% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.6%±41.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Vinalhaven and Wells 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% |
7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 9 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 28% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
19 min 24% below ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest 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 | — | — | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bristol Public Schools | — | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.