What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kennebunk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).

Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Kennebunk	Fair Haven
People
Population	11,820Highest	2,724Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S.	39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Fair Haven 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%	18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Fair Haven and Kennebunk 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.	$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$487,700±$21kHighest 47% above U.S.	$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$290Highest about the U.S. average	$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,999Highest 60% above U.S.	$3,865Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fair Haven and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6% U.S.: 65.2%	80.6% U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#9 of 133 in ME	#66 of 70 in VT
School district	RSU 21	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	Kennebunk High School	Fair Haven Union Middle and High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	12 photos →	12 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.