Compare towns
Camden vs Brewer vs Kennebunk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Camden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
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 | Camden | Brewer | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,242Lowest |
9,652 |
11,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.5 17% above ME |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
54.6±3.3Highest 22% above ME |
| Kennebunk and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Brewer and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30%±4 ME: 22.4% |
| Camden and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
35%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
51.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brewer and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,344±$15k 10% above ME |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME |
$107,804±$8kHighest 44% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $520,600±$70kHighest 76% above ME |
$245,300±$21kLowest 17% below ME |
$487,700±$21k 64% above ME |
| Camden and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,269±$354 11% above ME |
$1,086±$54Lowest 5% below ME |
$1,425±$290Highest 25% above ME |
| Kennebunk and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,832Highest 92% above ME |
$3,374Lowest 11% above ME |
$4,999 65% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±15.2 ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Brewer and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5% ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 7 yrs older than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 11% below ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.3%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunk and Camden 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 | #11 of 133 in ME | #32 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 28/MSAD 28 | Brewer Public Schools | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | Brewer High School | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.