What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the highest household income ($101k).

Vinalhaven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bristol	Vinalhaven
People
Population	2,917Highest	1,216Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	61±3.2Lowest 36% above ME	65.1±3.9Highest 45% above ME
	Vinalhaven and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1%	11.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Bristol and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	42.8%±8.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	50.4%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4%
	Vinalhaven 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%Highest ME: 36.2%	45.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Vinalhaven 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	$72,963±$11kLowest about the ME average
	Bristol and Vinalhaven 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	$428,400±$44kHighest 44% above ME
	Vinalhaven and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,051±$106Highest 8% below ME	$1,017±$924Lowest 11% below ME
	Bristol and Vinalhaven 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	$3,598Highest 19% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4%	53.6%±41.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Vinalhaven and Bristol 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%	7.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	86.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 9 yrs older than ME	1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 28% below ME	19 minHighest 24% below ME
Work from home	25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9%	19.3%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Bristol and Vinalhaven 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	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.