What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bar Harbor has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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	Bar Harbor
People
Population	11,820Highest	5,244Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	54.6±3.3Highest 22% above ME	49.2±5.9Lowest 10% above ME
	Kennebunk and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±3Highest ME: 18.1%	11.9%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Kennebunk and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30%±4Highest ME: 22.4%	25.1%±5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Kennebunk and Bar Harbor 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 ME: 36.2%	68.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	10.8%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,804±$8kHighest 44% above ME	$77,180±$26kLowest 3% above ME
	Kennebunk and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$487,700±$21kLowest 64% above ME	$538,400±$94kHighest 82% above ME
	Bar Harbor and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$290Highest 25% above ME	$1,106±$351Lowest about the ME average
	Kennebunk and Bar Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,999Highest 65% above ME	$4,279Lowest 41% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.1%±10.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	41.6%±17.6Highest ME: 48.4%
	Bar Harbor and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%	10.1%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	74.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 9% above ME	20 minLowest 20% below ME
Work from home	32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9%	21.9%±8.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Kennebunk and Bar Harbor 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	#2 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 21	Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD
High school in town	Kennebunk High School	Mt Desert Island High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	8.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.