Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Dover vs Stratham
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 oldest population (median age 54.6).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Dover | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,820 |
33,364Highest |
7,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Stratham 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. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Dover 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 21 | Dover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
12.7Highest |
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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.