Compare towns
Brookline vs Kennebunk vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Kennebunk has the oldest population (median age 54.6).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
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 | Brookline | Kennebunk | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736Lowest |
11,820Highest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1k 77% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Stratham 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | RSU 21 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 6 photos → |
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.