Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Plainfield 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%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Plainfield | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,221 |
2,522Lowest |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.3±7.2Highest 40% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Wells 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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 36% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Wells and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,466±$261 4% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Kennebunk 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Plainfield 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 120 in NH | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.