Compare towns
Dublin vs Kennebunk vs Thornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dublin has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Kennebunk has the most expensive homes ($488k median).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Dublin | Kennebunk | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,688Lowest |
11,820Highest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4Lowest 27% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4 31% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dublin and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thornton and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,659±$14k 30% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,500±$72k 29% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$165 6% below U.S. |
$1,425±$290Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165Highest 162% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$5,032 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | RSU 21 | Thornton School District |
| 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 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.