Compare towns
Dorchester vs Kennebunk vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k 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 | Dorchester | Kennebunk | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
11,820Highest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Dorchester and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lyme and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $107,804±$8kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,425±$290Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kennebunk and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Lyme 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 | — | RSU 21 | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | — | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.