What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).

Kennebunk has the most expensive homes ($488k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hampden	Kennebunk
People
Population	7,896Lowest	11,820Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME	54.6±3.3Highest 22% above ME
Kids under 18	25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%	17.7%±3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Hampden and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	30%±4Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	51.2%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%	2.7%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Hampden and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME	$107,804±$8kLowest 44% above ME
	Hampden and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average	$487,700±$21kHighest 64% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Lowest 13% above ME	$1,425±$290Highest 25% above ME
	Kennebunk and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Lowest 22% above ME	$4,999Highest 65% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	37.1%±10.9Highest ME: 48.4%
	Kennebunk and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 7% below ME	27 minHighest 9% above ME
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Kennebunk and Hampden 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	#6 of 133 in ME	#9 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 22	RSU 21
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Kennebunk High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	11.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.