Compare towns
Bristol vs Ogunquit vs Windham 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%).
Windham has the most kids (19.2% 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 | Windham | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,917 |
1,379Lowest |
19,188Highest |
5,046 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 61±3.2 36% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% below 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% |
19.2%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Windham 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% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest 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% |
44.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit and Windham 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 |
$107,934±$14k 44% above ME |
$96,250±$15kLowest 29% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Windham 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 |
$388,900±$22kLowest 31% above ME |
$609,700±$60k 106% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME |
— | $1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME |
| Harpswell and Windham 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 |
$3,938 30% 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% |
32.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Windham 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% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 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 |
26 min 7% above ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Lowest 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 | — | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Bristol Public Schools | — | RSU 14 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.