What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bethlehem	Kennebunk
People
Population	2,537Lowest	11,820Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.6±8.5Lowest 30% above U.S.	54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S.
	Kennebunk and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22%	17.7%±3 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	28.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Kennebunk and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Kennebunk and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S.	$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S.
	Kennebunk and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S.	$487,700±$21kHighest 47% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S.	$1,425±$290Highest about the U.S. average
	Kennebunk and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,418Highest 74% above U.S.	$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bethlehem and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	31.2%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Kennebunk and Bethlehem 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	#34 of 120 in NH	#9 of 133 in ME
School district	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District	RSU 21
High school in town	Profile Senior High School	Kennebunk High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.9Lowest	11.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.