The Town FilesSouth Bristol, Maine
Town in Lincoln County · population 1,127 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $469,200
- Household income
- $69,211
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 71 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 46.4
South Bristol is a town of 1,127 people in Lincoln County, Maine. The median home is worth $469,200, above the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of Maine towns, better for young professionals than 98% of Maine towns, better for retirees than 97% of Maine towns.
How South Bristol ranks
Percentile among Maine towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maine towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in South Bristol is worth $469,200, above the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 6.8 times the median household income of $69,211, which is more affordable than 2% of Maine towns. Median rent is $1,347 a month. 78.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Bristol | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $469,200 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | $1,347 | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $69,211 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 78.2% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 45.2% | — |
Who lives in South Bristol
| People | South Bristol | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.4 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.7% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 8.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 62.0% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.6% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 9.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 23.8% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 16.7 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.1% | 90.0% |
Weather in South Bristol
July highs average 76.3°F and January lows 14.3°F. About 51.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 71.0 inches of snow (typical Maine town: 77.2 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of South Bristol since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on June 20, 2001.
Severe weather in Lincoln County since 1996
Lincoln County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4764: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3598: Hurricane Lee |
| July 6, 2023 | Flood | DR-4719: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4522: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3444: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Lincoln County
Lincoln County had 11,252 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,238 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in South Bristol itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in South Bristol
1 public school with 59 students, about 7.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Bristol Elementary School | PK-8 | 59 | 7.4 |
Towns near South Bristol
- Bristol, ME3.9 mi · 2,834 people · home $406,400
- Boothbay Harbor, ME4.1 mi · 872 people · home $327,800
- Boothbay Harbor, ME4.8 mi · 2,027 people · home $400,600
- Boothbay, ME6.4 mi · 3,003 people · home $342,100
- Edgecomb, ME7.2 mi · 1,188 people · home $348,400
- Southport, ME7.4 mi · 622 people · home $495,800
- Westport Island, ME7.6 mi · 719 people · home $351,700
- Bremen, ME9.0 mi · 823 people · home $425,300
South Bristol questions
Is South Bristol, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Bristol scores better for retirees than 97% of Maine towns and quieter than 21%. 30.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.4).
How much does a house cost in South Bristol?
The median owner-occupied home in South Bristol is valued at $469,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,211, so homes cost about 6.8 times income. Median rent is $1,347 a month.
What is the weather like in South Bristol?
July highs average 76.3°F and January lows 14.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.7 inches of precipitation a year and 71.0 inches of snow.
Does South Bristol get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of South Bristol in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)