Compare towns

Brooksville vs Bristol vs Vinalhaven

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brooksville has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
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.

MeasureBrooksvilleBristolVinalhaven
People
Population
853Lowest
2,917Highest
1,216
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+2.9%
ME: +2.6%
+9.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
61.4±6.3
37% above ME
61±3.2Lowest
36% above ME
65.1±3.9Highest
45% above ME
Vinalhaven and Brooksville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13%±2.9
ME: 18.1%
13.9%±4.5Highest
ME: 18.1%
11.2%±3.3Lowest
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%±8.1
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+
52.6%
ME: 36.2%
52.7%Highest
ME: 36.2%
45.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.3
ME: 5.8%
1.4%±1.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.4%±2.1Highest
ME: 5.8%
Vinalhaven and Brooksville 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
$72,963±$11k
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
$390,900±$113kLowest
32% above ME
$406,400±$54k
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
$1,307±$68Highest
15% above ME
$1,051±$106
8% below ME
$1,017±$924Lowest
11% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,945Lowest
36% below ME
$2,668
12% below ME
$3,598Highest
19% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±38.7
ME: 48.4%
23.4%±19.2Lowest
ME: 48.4%
53.6%±41.5Highest
ME: 48.4%
Vinalhaven and Brooksville 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%
7.3%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.2%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
88.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
86.6%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
5 yrs newer than ME
1968
9 yrs older than ME
1966Lowest
11 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minHighest
15% below ME
18 minLowest
28% below ME
19 min
24% below ME
Work from home
16.7%±5.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
25%±8.3Highest
ME: 15.9%
19.3%±5.8
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 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 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.