What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kennebunk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).

Amherst has the highest household income ($153k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Kennebunk	Amherst
People
Population	11,820Lowest	11,861Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S.	45.9±3.5Lowest 18% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Amherst and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Amherst and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,804±$8kLowest 34% above U.S.	$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S.	$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S.
	Amherst and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S.
	Amherst and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S.	$9,773Highest 213% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.1%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Kennebunk and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Kennebunk and Amherst 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	#20 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 21	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District
High school in town	Kennebunk High School	Souhegan Coop High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.