Compare towns

Dover vs Newington vs Kennebunk

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 most renters (47.3% rent).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).

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.

MeasureDoverNewingtonKennebunk
People
Population
33,364Highest
939Lowest
11,820
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
48.7±10.1
25% above U.S.
54.6±3.3Highest
40% above U.S.
Kennebunk and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±3Highest
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%
28%±11
U.S.: 17.2%
30%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Kennebunk and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
62.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
51.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Newington 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.
$145,833±$46kHighest
81% above U.S.
$107,804±$8k
34% above U.S.
Newington 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±$20kLowest
31% above U.S.
$861,600±$46kHighest
159% above U.S.
$487,700±$21k
47% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
$2,292±$795Highest
62% above U.S.
$1,425±$290Lowest
about the U.S. average
Newington 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.
$6,081
95% above U.S.
$4,999Lowest
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
62.9%±44Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.1%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Newington 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%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
23 min
12% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.5%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #64 of 120 in NH — #9 of 133 in ME
School district Dover School District Newington School District RSU 21
High school in town Dover Senior High School None in town Kennebunk High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
—
11.6Lowest
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.