Compare towns

Hampton Beach vs Kennebunk vs Kingston

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Kennebunk has the most kids (17.7% 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.

MeasureHampton BeachKennebunkKingston
People
Population
2,605Lowest
11,820Highest
6,275
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+14.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
60.4±2.4Highest
55% above U.S.
54.6±3.3Lowest
40% above U.S.
55.5±5.7
43% above U.S.
Hampton Beach and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
3.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.5%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Kennebunk and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
33.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
30%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
24.7%±6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampton Beach and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
51.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.6%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Kingston and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$82,557±$17kLowest
about the U.S. average
$107,804±$8kHighest
34% above U.S.
$105,330±$12k
30% above U.S.
Kennebunk and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$508,900±$76kHighest
53% above U.S.
$487,700±$21kLowest
47% above U.S.
$492,900±$58k
48% above U.S.
Hampton Beach and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,375±$130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,425±$290Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,393±$156
about the U.S. average
Kennebunk and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,115
96% above U.S.
$4,999Lowest
60% above U.S.
$7,906Highest
153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.7%±20.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.1%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±46.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton Beach and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
4% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
34 minHighest
29% above U.S.
Work from home
26.9%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
32.5%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Kennebunk and Hampton Beach 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 #78 of 120 in NH
School district — RSU 21 Sanborn Regional School District
High school in town — Kennebunk High School Sanborn Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.6Lowest
12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.