What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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	Dedham
People
Population	11,820Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S.	44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dedham 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%	21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,804±$8kLowest 34% above U.S.	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S.	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S.	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dedham 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%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#9 of 133 in ME	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 21	Dedham
High school in town	Kennebunk High School	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	10.4Lowest
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.