Compare towns
Harpswell vs Meredith vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Bristol has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Harpswell | Meredith | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046 |
6,758Highest |
2,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Lowest 43% above U.S. |
61±3.2 57% above U.S. |
| Harpswell and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bristol and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.8%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 52.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Meredith and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,250±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$100,750±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Bristol and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $609,700±$60kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$406,400±$54kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,051±$106Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Harpswell and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141 about the U.S. average |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$2,668Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.4%±19.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bristol and Meredith 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | #16 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Bristol Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.