Compare towns
Bristol vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
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 | Strong |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 2,917Highest |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 61±3.2Highest 36% above ME |
47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Bristol 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%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Strong and Bristol 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 |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $406,400±$54kHighest 37% above ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,051±$106Highest 8% below ME |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
| Bristol and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,668Highest 12% below ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1971Highest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 28% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Bristol and Strong 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 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.