Compare towns
Bristol vs Vinalhaven vs Kennebunkport
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 most kids (13.9% under 18).
Vinalhaven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Kennebunkport has the most expensive homes ($741k 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 | Vinalhaven | Kennebunkport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,917 |
1,216Lowest |
3,684Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 61±3.2 36% above ME |
65.1±3.9Highest 45% above ME |
59.1±5Lowest 32% 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%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
8%±3.2Lowest 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%±8.1 ME: 22.4% |
50.4%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
36.9%±8Lowest 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% |
52.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Vinalhaven and Kennebunkport 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 |
$72,963±$11kLowest about the ME average |
$102,747±$30kHighest 37% above ME |
| Kennebunkport and Bristol 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±$44k 44% above ME |
$740,500±$109kHighest 150% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,051±$106 8% below ME |
$1,017±$924Lowest 11% below ME |
$1,429±$296Highest 25% above ME |
| Kennebunkport and Bristol 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 |
$3,598 19% above ME |
$3,914Highest 29% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.6%±41.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
25.8%±20.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Vinalhaven and Kennebunkport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 9 yrs older than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 28% below ME |
19 min 24% below ME |
34 minHighest 38% above ME |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
31.6%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunkport 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 | — | #42 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bristol Public Schools | — | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.