Compare towns
Ashland vs Holderness 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
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Holderness has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Kennebunk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
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 | Ashland | Holderness | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183 |
1,917Lowest |
11,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
39.4±7.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashland and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holderness and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$107,863±$45kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| Holderness and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$363,100±$60k 9% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
| Holderness and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 59% above U.S. |
$3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,999Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashland and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Ashland School District | Holderness School District | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 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.