Compare towns

Kennebunk vs Dedham vs Freeport

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kennebunk has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Freeport has the most homeowners (77.6%).

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.

MeasureKennebunkDedhamFreeport
People
Population
6,221Lowest
25,237Highest
8,802
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.3±7.2Highest
40% above U.S.
44.6±1.6Lowest
15% above U.S.
48.8±4.3
25% above U.S.
Kennebunk and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.1%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Freeport and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.9%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Kennebunk and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Dedham and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,169±$21kLowest
18% above U.S.
$128,955±$10kHighest
60% above U.S.
$107,326±$19k
33% above U.S.
Dedham and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$452,800±$17kLowest
36% above U.S.
$661,800±$16kHighest
99% above U.S.
$508,400±$76k
53% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,466±$261
4% above U.S.
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
$1,439±$123Lowest
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,771Lowest
53% above U.S.
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
$5,042
62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.3%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10
U.S.: 51.1%
62%±18.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Freeport and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
24 min
11% below U.S.
Work from home
36.6%±10.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.2%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Kennebunk and Freeport 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 #119 of 282 in MA #4 of 133 in ME
School district — Dedham RSU 05
High school in town — Dedham High Freeport High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4Lowest
12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.