Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Amherst vs York
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 highest household income ($153k).
York has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
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 | York |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,820Lowest |
11,861 |
13,986Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Lowest 18% above U.S. |
49.5±5.2 27% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst and York 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% |
27.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$121,250±$25k 50% above U.S. |
| Amherst and York 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±$30k 62% above U.S. |
$636,400±$30kHighest 91% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
$1,490±$336Highest 5% above U.S. |
| York and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,999 60% above U.S. |
$9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
$4,658Lowest 49% 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% |
56.5%±10.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| York 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26%±3.9Lowest 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 | #13 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | York Public Schools |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | Souhegan Coop High School | York High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
10.4 |
9.6Lowest |
| 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.