Compare towns
Hanover vs Kennebunk vs Lebanon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Kennebunk has the oldest population (median age 54.6).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Kennebunk | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,479Lowest |
11,820 |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | RSU 21 | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | — | Kennebunk High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| 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.