Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Needham vs Arundel
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 oldest population (median age 54.3).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Arundel has the most affordable homes ($421k 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 | Kennebunk | Needham | Arundel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,221 |
32,459Highest |
4,418Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.3±7.2Highest 40% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
40.9±6.4Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Arundel 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% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Arundel 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$101,597±$17k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,800±$17k 36% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$421,300±$62kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,466±$261Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,607±$495 14% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,771 53% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,763Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Kennebunk 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #7 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | — | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.