Compare towns

Hampton vs Kennebunk vs Wells vs York

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 renters (26.2% rent).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
York has the most kids (21.1% 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.

MeasureHamptonKennebunkWellsYork
People
Population
16,426Highest
11,820
11,713Lowest
13,986
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
54.6±3.3
40% above U.S.
53.6±3.8
38% above U.S.
49.5±5.2Lowest
27% above 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%±3
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
York and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.9%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
30%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
31%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.9%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wells and Hampton 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Wells and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,233±$9k
18% above U.S.
$107,804±$8k
34% above U.S.
$88,024±$11kLowest
9% above U.S.
$121,250±$25kHighest
50% above U.S.
York and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$550,200±$39k
65% above U.S.
$487,700±$21k
47% above U.S.
$485,300±$23kLowest
46% above U.S.
$636,400±$30kHighest
91% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,628±$94Highest
15% above U.S.
$1,425±$290
about the U.S. average
$1,350±$297Lowest
4% below U.S.
$1,490±$336
5% above U.S.
Hampton and York 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.
$4,999
60% above U.S.
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
$4,658
49% 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%
42.1%±19.6
U.S.: 51.1%
56.5%±10.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton and York 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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
Work from home
21.7%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
32.5%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Kennebunk and York 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 #22 of 133 in ME #13 of 133 in ME
School district Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District RSU 21 Wells-Ogunquit CSD York Public Schools
High school in town Winnacunnet High School Kennebunk High School Wells High School York High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.1
11.6Highest
11.4
9.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.