Compare towns

Hampstead vs Kennebunk vs Derry

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).

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.

MeasureHampsteadKennebunkDerry
People
Population
9,102Lowest
11,820
34,116Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±6.1
16% above U.S.
54.6±3.3Highest
40% above U.S.
40.3±1.6Lowest
4% above U.S.
Kennebunk and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.3%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±2.1
U.S.: 22%
Hampstead and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.8%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
30%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.2%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
51.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Derry and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,348±$18kHighest
39% above U.S.
$107,804±$8kLowest
34% above U.S.
$108,944±$7k
35% above U.S.
Hampstead and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$521,100±$45kHighest
57% above U.S.
$487,700±$21k
47% above U.S.
$432,000±$17kLowest
30% above U.S.
Hampstead and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,299±$149Lowest
8% below U.S.
$1,425±$290
about the U.S. average
$1,547±$138Highest
9% above U.S.
Derry and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
$4,999Lowest
60% above U.S.
$8,103
160% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±20.2
U.S.: 51.1%
37.1%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Derry and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1983Lowest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1983Lowest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
14% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
21%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
32.5%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Kennebunk and Hampstead 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 #49 of 120 in NH #9 of 133 in ME #60 of 120 in NH
School district Hampstead School District RSU 21 Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District
High school in town None in town Kennebunk High School Pinkerton Academy
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.6Lowest
13.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 12 photos → 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.