Compare towns
Barnstead vs Kennebunk vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Barnstead | Kennebunk | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
11,820Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25k 9% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$1,425±$290Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnstead and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #111 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Barnstead School District | RSU 21 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.