Compare towns
Dorset vs Kennebunk vs Rupert
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).
Kennebunk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Rupert has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Dorset | Kennebunk | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
11,820Highest |
676Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 18% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest 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% |
42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dorset and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$88,229±$36kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$362,500±$63kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,425±$290Highest about the U.S. average |
— |
| 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. |
$4,594Lowest 47% 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% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Dorset 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | RSU 21 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | — |
| 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.