Compare towns
Hallowell vs Kennebunk vs Damariscotta
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hallowell has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Damariscotta has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
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 | Hallowell | Kennebunk | Damariscotta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,592 |
11,820Highest |
2,192Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+3.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.9 12% above ME |
54.6±3.3Highest 22% above ME |
49.3±8.6Lowest 10% above ME |
| Kennebunk and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Damariscotta and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
30%±4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Hallowell and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
51.2% ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Hallowell and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,398±$10k 8% below ME |
$107,804±$8kHighest 44% above ME |
$59,423±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,300±$45kLowest about the ME average |
$487,700±$21kHighest 64% above ME |
$363,500±$42k 23% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$175Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,425±$290Highest 25% above ME |
$1,027±$88 10% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,867 27% above ME |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
$3,806Lowest 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±17.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Damariscotta and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 43% below ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.2%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunk and Hallowell 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 | — |
| School district | RSU 02 | RSU 21 | Great Salt Bay CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.