Compare towns
Bethel vs Kennebunk vs Ogunquit vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethel has the youngest population (median age 50.2).
Kennebunk has the most kids (17.7% under 18).
Ogunquit has the most expensive homes ($876k median).
Hanover has the shortest commute (22 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 | Bethel | Kennebunk | Ogunquit | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,617 |
11,820Highest |
1,379 |
276Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 50.2±6.4Lowest 12% above ME |
54.6±3.3 22% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
53.3±10.3 19% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±9.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Kennebunk and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.3%±6.5 ME: 22.4% |
30%±4 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±12.6Lowest 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+ | 41.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
51.2% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hanover and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,929±$23k 21% below ME |
$107,804±$8k 44% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$55,417±$52kLowest 26% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $344,900±$37k 16% above ME |
$487,700±$21k 64% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$334,500±$36kLowest 13% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $864±$43Lowest 24% below ME |
$1,425±$290Highest 25% above ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,835 7% below ME |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$2,492Lowest 18% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.3%±15.4 ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Kennebunk and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 5% above ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
22 minLowest 9% below ME |
| Work from home | 27.7%±8.1 ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
25%±19.2Lowest 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 | #49 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 44/MSAD 44 | RSU 21 | — | — |
| High school in town | Telstar High School | Kennebunk High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
11.6Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.