What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brooksville has the most renters (14.8% rent).

Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

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	Brooksville	Bristol
People
Population	853Lowest	2,917Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+2.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	61.4±6.3Highest 37% above ME	61±3.2Lowest 36% above ME
	Brooksville and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	13.9%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Bristol and Brooksville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	41.6%±10.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Bristol and Brooksville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	52.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8%	1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Brooksville and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,316±$20kLowest 25% below ME	$100,750±$19kHighest 35% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$390,900±$113kLowest 32% above ME	$406,400±$54kHighest 37% above ME
	Bristol and Brooksville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,307±$68Highest 15% above ME	$1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,945Lowest 36% below ME	$2,668Highest 12% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.9%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4%	23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Brooksville and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	88.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME	1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 15% below ME	18 minLowest 28% below ME
Work from home	16.7%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Bristol and Brooksville 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	Brooksville Public Schools	Bristol Public Schools
High school in town	None 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.