Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Kennebunk vs Wells
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 the most renters (37.1% rent).
Kennebunk has the highest household income ($108k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Hampton Beach | Kennebunk | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,605Lowest |
11,820Highest |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Kennebunk 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%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Wells 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% |
43.3% 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% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells 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. |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,425±$290Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% 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% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Wells 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% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest 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 | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 21 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | — | Kennebunk High School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.