Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Needham vs Camden
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 affordable homes ($453k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Camden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Camden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,221 |
32,459Highest |
5,242Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.3±7.2Highest 40% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
52.2±6.5 34% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Camden 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
38%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Camden and Kennebunk 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.1% 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% |
3.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,169±$21k 18% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$82,344±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,800±$17kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$520,600±$70k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,466±$261 4% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,269±$354Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,771Lowest 53% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,832 87% 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% |
39.9%±15.2Lowest 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% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±8.8Lowest 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 | #11 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | — | RSU 28/MSAD 28 |
| 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.