Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Hampton Beach vs Wells
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%).
Hampton Beach has the most renters (37.1% rent).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Kennebunk | Hampton Beach | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,221 |
2,605Lowest |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.3±7.2 40% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,169±$21kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Wells 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. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,466±$261Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,771 53% above U.S. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Wells 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Hampton Beach 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | — | — | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.