Compare towns
Epping vs Kennebunk vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Epping | Kennebunk | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430 |
11,820Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| Epping and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | RSU 21 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
11.6Highest |
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| 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.