Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Epping vs Strafford vs Freeport
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%).
Epping has the youngest population (median age 45.1).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
Freeport has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Epping | Strafford | Freeport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,820Highest |
7,430 |
4,306Lowest |
8,802 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Freeport 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Freeport and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk and Freeport 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Freeport 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 |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
| Epping and Strafford 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Epping 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | #4 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | Epping School District | Strafford School District | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | Epping High School | None in town | Freeport High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
9.3Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
| 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.