Compare towns
Harpswell vs Readfield vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harpswell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Readfield has the most kids (18.7% 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 | Readfield | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046Highest |
2,651Lowest |
2,917 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
0%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
48.1±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
61±3.2 36% above ME |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Readfield and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| 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 ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Readfield 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 29% above ME |
$86,504±$8kLowest 16% above ME |
$100,750±$19kHighest 35% above ME |
| 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 106% above ME |
$326,400±$20kLowest 10% above ME |
$406,400±$54k 37% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53Highest 18% above ME |
$1,125±$844 about the ME average |
$1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME |
| Harpswell and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141 3% above ME |
$3,392Highest 12% above ME |
$2,668Lowest 12% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Readfield and Harpswell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% ME: 10.7% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Bristol and Readfield 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 | — | #20 of 133 in ME | #16 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 38 | Bristol Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| 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.