Compare towns
Appleton vs Kennebunk vs Ogunquit vs Scarborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Kennebunk has the most kids (17.7% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Scarborough has the shortest commute (19 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 | Appleton | Kennebunk | Ogunquit | Scarborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
11,820 |
1,379 |
23,215Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+17% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
54.6±3.3 22% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
48.8±2.7Lowest 9% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±2 ME: 18.1% |
| Kennebunk and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
30%±4 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
51.2% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
57.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Scarborough and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$107,804±$8k 44% above ME |
$114,259±$56k 53% above ME |
$133,558±$21kHighest 79% above ME |
| Scarborough and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$487,700±$21k 64% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$551,900±$39k 86% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,425±$290 25% above ME |
— | $1,956±$178Highest 72% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 18% above ME |
$4,999 65% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$5,978Highest 97% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
51.9%±13.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
80.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
19 minLowest 21% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
24.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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 | — | #9 of 133 in ME | — | #35 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 21 | — | Scarborough Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | — | Scarborough High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
— | 11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.