Compare towns

Kennebunk vs Dover vs Arundel vs Kennebunk

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 expensive homes ($488k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Arundel has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
Kennebunk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).

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.

MeasureKennebunkDoverArundelKennebunk
People
Population
11,820
33,364Highest
4,418Lowest
6,221
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.6±3.3Highest
40% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
40.9±6.4
5% above U.S.
54.3±7.2
40% above U.S.
Kennebunk and Kennebunk 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%
16.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.4%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.1%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
Arundel 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%
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.9%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Kennebunk 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
52%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Arundel 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.
$94,829±$7kLowest
17% above U.S.
$101,597±$17k
26% above U.S.
$95,169±$21k
18% above U.S.
Kennebunk and Arundel 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.
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
$421,300±$62kLowest
27% above U.S.
$452,800±$17k
36% above U.S.
Kennebunk and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,425±$290Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,607±$100Highest
14% above U.S.
$1,607±$495Highest
14% above U.S.
$1,466±$261
4% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,999
60% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$3,763Lowest
21% above U.S.
$4,771
53% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.1%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
34.2%±22.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Dover and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1992Highest
12 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
32.5%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
36.6%±10.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Kennebunk and Kennebunk 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 #64 of 120 in NH #7 of 133 in ME #9 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 21 Dover School District RSU 21 —
High school in town Kennebunk High School Dover Senior High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.6Lowest
12.7Highest
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.