Compare towns
Calais vs Kennebunk vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Kennebunk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Calais | Kennebunk | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713 |
11,820Highest |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,425±$290Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,372±$80Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kennebunk and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$6,038 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Calais 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 | — | #9 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 21 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.