Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Wells vs Kennebunk
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Kennebunk has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Wells | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,221Lowest |
11,713 |
11,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.3±7.2 21% above ME |
53.6±3.8Lowest 20% above ME |
54.6±3.3Highest 22% above ME |
| Kennebunk and Kennebunk 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% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Kennebunk and Wells 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% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
30%±4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| 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 ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
51.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Wells and Kennebunk 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 |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% above ME |
$107,804±$8kHighest 44% above ME |
| Kennebunk 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±$17kLowest 53% above ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
$487,700±$21kHighest 64% above ME |
| Kennebunk and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,466±$261Highest 29% above ME |
$1,350±$297Lowest 19% above ME |
$1,425±$290 25% above ME |
| Kennebunk and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,771 57% above ME |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±13.2 ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| 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 ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 8% below ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 36.6%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunk 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | — | Wells High School | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.