What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bethel has the most affordable homes ($345k median).

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	Bethel
People
Population	11,820Highest	2,617Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	54.6±3.3Highest 22% above ME	50.2±6.4Lowest 12% above ME
	Kennebunk and Bethel 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%	15.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Kennebunk and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30%±4Highest ME: 22.4%	29.3%±6.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Kennebunk and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.2%Highest ME: 36.2%	41.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.4 ME: 5.8%	2.7%±1.8 ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,804±$8kHighest 44% above ME	$58,929±$23kLowest 21% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$487,700±$21kHighest 64% above ME	$344,900±$37kLowest 16% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$290Highest 25% above ME	$864±$43Lowest 24% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,999Highest 65% above ME	$2,835Lowest 7% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.1%±10.9Highest ME: 48.4%	21.3%±15.4Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Kennebunk and Bethel 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%	13.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	82.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 9% above ME	26 minLowest 5% above ME
Work from home	32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9%	27.7%±8.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Kennebunk and Bethel 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	#49 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 21	RSU 44/MSAD 44
High school in town	Kennebunk High School	Telstar High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	11.3Lowest
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.