Compare towns
Harpswell vs Needham vs Ogunquit 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
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($406k 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 | Harpswell | Needham | Ogunquit | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,046 |
32,459Highest |
1,379Lowest |
2,917 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62±1.5 59% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
61±3.2 57% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.8%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,250±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$100,750±$19k 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $609,700±$60k 83% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$406,400±$54kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53 5% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— | $1,051±$106Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141 about the U.S. average |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$2,668Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
28 min 5% 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% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Needham 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — | #16 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — | — | Bristol Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.