Compare towns
Harpswell vs Ogunquit vs Pelham 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 renters (16.7% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Pelham has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Pelham | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,046 |
1,379Lowest |
14,449Highest |
2,917 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62±1.5 59% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% 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% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest 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% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$100,750±$19k 25% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $609,700±$60k 83% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$406,400±$54kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53 5% below U.S. |
— | $1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,051±$106Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Pelham and Harpswell 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 |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$2,668Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer 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 |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Bristol 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 | — | — | #48 of 120 in NH | #16 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — | Pelham School District | Bristol Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.