Compare towns
Dorset vs Kennebunk vs Ogunquit vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Dorset | Kennebunk | Ogunquit | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
11,820Highest |
1,379Lowest |
4,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 18% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
54.5±6.3 40% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Manchester and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$94,886±$23kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$454,600±$47kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,425±$290Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,057±$76Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,923 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±13.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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 | — | #37 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | RSU 21 | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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 → | 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.