Compare towns
Amherst vs Kennebunk vs Windham
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
Kennebunk has the oldest population (median age 54.6).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Amherst | Kennebunk | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861 |
11,820Lowest |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham 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±$10k 90% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 213% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest 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 | #9 of 133 in ME | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | RSU 21 | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Kennebunk High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.6 |
12.8Highest |
| 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.