Compare towns
Dover vs Kennebunk vs Lebanon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Lebanon 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 | Dover | Kennebunk | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
6,221Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
54.3±7.2Highest 40% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$95,169±$21k 18% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$452,800±$17kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,466±$261Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,771Lowest 53% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Lebanon 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | — | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | — | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 11.7Lowest |
| 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.