Compare towns
Durham vs Kennebunk vs China
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
China has the most affordable homes ($240k 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 | Durham | Kennebunk | China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
11,820Highest |
4,526 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
54.6±3.3Highest 22% above ME |
40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| China and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% ME: 36.2% |
51.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5k 33% above ME |
$107,804±$8kHighest 44% above ME |
$96,309±$12kLowest 29% above ME |
| Kennebunk and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
$487,700±$21kHighest 64% above ME |
$240,000±$37kLowest 19% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,425±$290 25% above ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 25% above ME |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
$2,535Lowest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Kennebunk and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
30 minHighest 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±4.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunk and Durham 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 | #14 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME | #27 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 21 | RSU 18 |
| 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 |
ME 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.