Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Danvers vs Wells
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 people working from home (32.5%).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Danvers | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,820 |
28,098Highest |
11,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
45.3±3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Wells 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% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Kennebunk 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% |
22.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,999 60% above U.S. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Danvers and Wells 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 133 in ME | #91 of 282 in MA | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.