What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k 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	Bethlehem
People
Population	11,820Highest	2,537Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S.	50.6±8.5Lowest 30% above U.S.
	Kennebunk and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±3 U.S.: 22%	17.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	28.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Kennebunk and Bethlehem 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 U.S.: 35.7%	45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Kennebunk and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S.	$85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S.
	Kennebunk and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$487,700±$21kHighest 47% above U.S.	$288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$290Highest about the U.S. average	$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S.
	Kennebunk and Bethlehem 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.	$5,418Highest 74% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	41.3%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bethlehem 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 U.S.: 12.5%	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	31.2%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Kennebunk and Bethlehem 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	#34 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 21	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District
High school in town	Kennebunk High School	Profile Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	8.9Lowest
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.