Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Fair Haven vs Arundel
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%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Arundel has the shortest commute (23 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 | Fair Haven | Arundel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,820Highest |
2,724Lowest |
4,418 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.9±6.4 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Arundel and Fair Haven 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%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.4% 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% |
3.5%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fair Haven 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. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$101,597±$17k 26% 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. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$421,300±$62k 27% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,607±$495Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Arundel and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,999Highest 60% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
$3,763Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.2%±22.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 133 in ME | #66 of 70 in VT | #7 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 12 photos → | 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.