Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Deerfield vs Barnstead
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%).
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Deerfield | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,820Highest |
4,932Lowest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
42.8±4.2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Deerfield 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% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Deerfield 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. |
$131,563±$10kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
| Deerfield and Barnstead 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. |
$421,000±$33k 27% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$1,593±$318Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Deerfield and Kennebunk 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. |
$7,369Highest 136% above U.S. |
$6,003 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnstead 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Deerfield 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 21 | Deerfield School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.