What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).

Kennebunk has the oldest population (median age 54.6).

Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hanover	Kennebunk
People
Population	11,685Lowest	11,820Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S.	54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Kennebunk and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S.	$107,804±$8kLowest 34% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S.	$487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S.	$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	26.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.5%±7.6Highest 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
School district	Dresden School District · Hanover School District	RSU 21
High school in town	Hanover High School	Kennebunk High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	11.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.