Compare towns
Fairfield vs Kennebunk vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Fairfield | Kennebunk | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938Lowest |
11,820Highest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairfield and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22k 8% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Kennebunk and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22k 4% below U.S. |
$487,700±$21kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,425±$290Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 54% above U.S. |
$4,999Highest 60% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Kennebunk and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #9 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | RSU 21 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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 History | 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.