Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Ogunquit vs Appleton vs Boothbay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kennebunk has the most kids (18.1% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Boothbay has the shortest commute (13 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 | Ogunquit | Appleton | Boothbay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,221Highest |
1,379 |
1,360Lowest |
3,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.3±7.2 21% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
56.8±3.9 27% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Kennebunk and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
35.4%±7.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
51.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
6%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Boothbay and Ogunquit 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 27% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$60,320±$17k 19% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,800±$17k 53% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$342,100±$43k 15% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,466±$261Highest 29% above ME |
— | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,147±$121 about the ME average |
| Kennebunk and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,771Highest 57% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$2,202Lowest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±13.2 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.4%±31 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton 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 ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 8% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
13 minLowest 46% below ME |
| Work from home | 36.6%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
5.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | — | — | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.