What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

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	Exeter
People
Population	11,820Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Kennebunk and Exeter 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%	24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Kennebunk and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,804±$8kLowest 34% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Exeter 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±$21kHighest 47% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Kennebunk and Exeter 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	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
	Exeter 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.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter 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%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#9 of 133 in ME	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 21	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Kennebunk High School	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	59 photos →

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.