Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Amherst vs Bow
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 oldest population (median age 54.6).
Amherst has the most expensive homes ($538k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Amherst | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,820 |
11,861Highest |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Amherst 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%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Amherst 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±$10k 90% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Bow and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Bow 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±$256 3% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Bow and Amherst 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. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bow and Kennebunk 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest 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 | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 21 | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | Souhegan Coop High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.