Compare towns
Camden vs Nelson vs Kennebunk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Camden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Kennebunk has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Nelson | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,242 |
648Lowest |
11,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.5 34% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Camden and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,344±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $520,600±$70kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
| 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 10% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,425±$290Highest about the U.S. average |
| 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 87% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nelson and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.3%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Nelson 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 | — | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 28/MSAD 28 | Nelson School District | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 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.