Compare towns
Harrison vs Kennebunk vs Dresden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harrison has the most homeowners (90.1%).
Kennebunk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($240k 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.
| Measure | Harrison | Kennebunk | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,513 |
11,820Highest |
1,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.6Highest 25% above ME |
54.6±3.3Lowest 22% above ME |
55.1±7.9 23% above ME |
| Harrison and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3Highest ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Kennebunk and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.6 ME: 22.4% |
30%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Kennebunk and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% ME: 36.2% |
51.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Dresden and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,938±$6kLowest 24% below ME |
$107,804±$8kHighest 44% above ME |
$74,844±$22k about the ME average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,300±$70k 16% below ME |
$487,700±$21kHighest 64% above ME |
$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $885±$193Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,425±$290Highest 25% above ME |
$1,194±$502 5% above ME |
| Kennebunk and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,731 10% below ME |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
$2,500Lowest 18% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.5%±24.4 ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Kennebunk and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 24% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 22.3%±9.4 ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunk and Harrison 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 | — |
| School district | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | RSU 21 | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.