What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kennebunk has the oldest population (median age 54.6).

Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).

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	Bedford
People
Population	11,820Lowest	23,746Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S.	45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bedford 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%	20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	63%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bedford 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.	$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S.	$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average	$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S.	$9,803Highest 214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bedford 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%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Kennebunk and Bedford 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	#7 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 21	Bedford School District
High school in town	Kennebunk High School	Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Lowest	13.5Highest
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.