Compare towns
Bristol vs Warren 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).
Warren has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Harpswell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Warren | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,917Lowest |
4,932 |
5,046Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% ME: +2.6% |
+2.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 61±3.2 36% above ME |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% below ME |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
| Harpswell 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% |
13.9%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
12%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Bristol and Harpswell 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% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Warren and Harpswell 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 |
$74,616±$21kLowest about the ME average |
$96,250±$15k 29% above ME |
| Bristol and Harpswell 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 |
$232,700±$32kLowest 22% below ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME |
$1,125±$456 about the ME average |
$1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME |
| Harpswell and Warren 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 |
$2,832 7% below ME |
$3,141Highest 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
52.1%±29.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Warren 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% |
6% ME: 10.7% |
5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 28% below ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.6%±9.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Bristol and Harpswell 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 | #120 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Bristol Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.