Compare towns
Winthrop vs Bristol vs Sidney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winthrop has the most affordable homes ($295k median).
Bristol has the oldest population (median age 61).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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 | Winthrop | Bristol | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,191Highest |
2,917Lowest |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.9% ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.6±5.3 about the ME average |
61±3.2Highest 36% above ME |
43±5.5Lowest 4% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.4%±5 ME: 22.4% |
42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% ME: 36.2% |
52.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
33.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Winthrop and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,470±$4k 16% above ME |
$100,750±$19kHighest 35% above ME |
$83,488±$10kLowest 12% above ME |
| Bristol and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,800±$41kLowest about the ME average |
$406,400±$54kHighest 37% above ME |
$336,200±$34k 13% above ME |
| Bristol and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $892±$319Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,051±$106 8% below ME |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
| Sidney and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,506Highest 15% above ME |
$2,668 12% below ME |
$2,474Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±22.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
23.4%±19.2 ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Winthrop and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 23.1%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Bristol and Winthrop 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 | #12 of 133 in ME | #16 of 133 in ME | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Winthrop Public Schools | Bristol Public Schools | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | Winthrop High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.