Compare towns

Dover vs Kennebunk vs Gray

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k 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.

MeasureDoverKennebunkGray
People
Population
33,364Highest
11,820
8,429Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
54.6±3.3Highest
40% above U.S.
43.4±4.5
12% above U.S.
Kids under 18
16.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
19%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Gray and Kennebunk 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%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
51.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Gray 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.
$107,804±$8kHighest
34% above U.S.
$95,236±$8k
18% above U.S.
Kennebunk and Gray 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.
$487,700±$21kHighest
47% above U.S.
$363,700±$20kLowest
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$100Highest
14% above U.S.
$1,425±$290
about the U.S. average
$1,371±$89Lowest
about the U.S. average
Dover and Kennebunk 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.
$4,999
60% above U.S.
$3,683Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
37.1%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
32.5%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #64 of 120 in NH #9 of 133 in ME #10 of 133 in ME
School district Dover School District RSU 21 RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences
High school in town Dover Senior High School Kennebunk High School Gray-New Gloucester High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
11.6Lowest
12.5
On TownTapestry
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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.