Compare towns
Bristol vs Ogunquit vs West Bath vs Harpswell
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%).
West Bath has the youngest population (median age 54.2).
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 | West Bath | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,917 |
1,379Lowest |
1,863 |
5,046Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 61±3.2 36% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
54.2±5.6Lowest 21% above ME |
62±1.5 38% 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%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
| West Bath 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%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5 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% |
50.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| West Bath 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 |
$103,333±$27k 38% above ME |
$96,250±$15kLowest 29% above ME |
| Ogunquit and West Bath 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 |
$422,800±$102k 43% above ME |
$609,700±$60k 106% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME |
— | $1,112±$327 about the ME average |
$1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME |
| Harpswell and West Bath 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 |
$3,516 16% above ME |
$3,141 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
41.1%±26.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5 ME: 48.4% |
| West Bath 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 ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 28% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
21 min 16% below ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±6.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2 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 | — | West Bath Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.