Compare towns

Hampton vs Kennebunk vs Keene

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 has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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.

MeasureHamptonKennebunkKeene
People
Population
16,426
11,820Lowest
22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
54.6±3.3
40% above U.S.
37.6±2.3Lowest
3% below U.S.
Hampton and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
Kennebunk and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.9%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
30%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampton and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
51.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,233±$9k
18% above U.S.
$107,804±$8kHighest
34% above U.S.
$78,445±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
Kennebunk and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$550,200±$39kHighest
65% above U.S.
$487,700±$21k
47% above U.S.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,628±$94Highest
15% above U.S.
$1,425±$290
about the U.S. average
$1,342±$68Lowest
5% below U.S.
Hampton and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,813Highest
118% above U.S.
$4,999Lowest
60% above U.S.
$6,812
118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.8%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.1%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
Work from home
21.7%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
32.5%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Kennebunk and Hampton 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 #31 of 120 in NH #9 of 133 in ME #81 of 120 in NH
School district Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District RSU 21 Keene School District
High school in town Winnacunnet High School Kennebunk High School Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.1Lowest
11.6
12.3Highest
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.