Compare towns
Arundel vs Mapleton vs Strong vs Kennebunk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arundel has the highest household income ($102k).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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 | Arundel | Mapleton | Strong | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,418 |
1,884 |
1,249Lowest |
6,221Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±6.4Lowest 9% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
54.3±7.2Highest 21% above ME |
| Kennebunk and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,597±$17kHighest 36% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$95,169±$21k 27% above ME |
| Arundel and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $421,300±$62k 42% above ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$452,800±$17kHighest 53% above ME |
| Kennebunk and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$495Highest 41% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
$1,466±$261 29% above ME |
| Arundel and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,763 24% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$4,771Highest 57% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.2%±22.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±13.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Kennebunk and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
73.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 7%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
36.6%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunk and Strong 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 | #7 of 133 in ME | — | — | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.