Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Bow vs Rye
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 most renters (19.4% rent).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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.
| Measure | Kennebunk | Bow | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,820Highest |
8,335 |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Rye and Kennebunk 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% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Kennebunk 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% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow 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. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
| Bow and Rye 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. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Rye and Bow 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. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye and Bow 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Rye 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 21 | Bow School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| 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.