Compare towns
Amherst vs Freeport vs Kennebunk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the highest household income ($153k).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Kennebunk has the oldest population (median age 54.6).
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 | Amherst | Freeport | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
8,802Lowest |
11,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Lowest 18% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$107,326±$19kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Amherst and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Amherst 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 120 in NH | #4 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | RSU 05 | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Freeport High School | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.2Highest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.