Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Plaistow 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%).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Plaistow | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,221Lowest |
7,861 |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.3±7.2Highest 40% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
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% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plaistow 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% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest 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% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Plaistow 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. |
$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Plaistow 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. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% 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. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Plaistow 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. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow 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% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 133 in ME | #66 of 120 in NH | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Timberlane Regional School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | — | Timberlane Regional High School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
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.