What stands out worked out from the figures below

Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).

Kennebunk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).

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