Compare towns
Freeport vs Hampton vs Kennebunk vs Scarborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freeport has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Hampton has the most renters (26.2% rent).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Scarborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Freeport | Hampton | Kennebunk | Scarborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,802Lowest |
16,426 |
11,820 |
23,215Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.3Lowest 25% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
48.8±2.7Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Freeport and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$133,558±$21kHighest 65% above U.S. |
| Scarborough and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,400±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S. |
$551,900±$39kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Scarborough and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,956±$178Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,042 62% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$5,978 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Scarborough 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #31 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME | #35 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | RSU 21 | Scarborough Public Schools |
| High school in town | Freeport High School | Winnacunnet High School | Kennebunk High School | Scarborough High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
10.1Lowest |
11.6 |
11.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.