Compare towns
Bristol vs Readfield vs Newcastle
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 oldest population (median age 61).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Newcastle has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Readfield | Newcastle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,917Highest |
2,651 |
1,913Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% ME: +2.6% |
0%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 61±3.2Highest 36% above ME |
48.1±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
49.4±7 10% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.8%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Readfield and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±1.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
48.8% ME: 36.2% |
45.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Newcastle and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,750±$19kHighest 35% above ME |
$86,504±$8kLowest 16% above ME |
$89,868±$33k 20% above ME |
| Bristol and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $406,400±$54kHighest 37% above ME |
$326,400±$20kLowest 10% above ME |
$398,000±$41k 34% above ME |
| Bristol and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME |
$1,125±$844 about the ME average |
$1,363±$81Highest 20% above ME |
| Newcastle and Readfield 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 |
$3,392 12% above ME |
$4,256Highest 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
5.8%±16.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Readfield and Bristol 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% |
5% ME: 10.7% |
3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 28% below ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
17 minLowest 30% below ME |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±4.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Bristol and Readfield 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 | #20 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Bristol Public Schools | RSU 38 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.