Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Gorham vs Cape Elizabeth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kennebunk has the oldest population (median age 54.6).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Cape Elizabeth has the most expensive homes ($732k 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.
| Measure | Kennebunk | Gorham | Cape Elizabeth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,820 |
18,300Highest |
9,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3Highest 22% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
47.4±3.3 6% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
26%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Cape Elizabeth and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.7%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Kennebunk and Cape Elizabeth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
74.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,804±$8kLowest 44% above ME |
$112,312±$6k 50% above ME |
$145,821±$8kHighest 95% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $487,700±$21k 64% above ME |
$460,900±$26kLowest 55% above ME |
$731,600±$53kHighest 147% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290Lowest 25% above ME |
$1,680±$355 47% above ME |
$2,185±$275Highest 92% above ME |
| Cape Elizabeth and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,999 65% above ME |
$4,825Lowest 59% above ME |
$7,637Highest 152% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.2%±19.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Gorham 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 ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
88%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
31.9%±6.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunk and Cape Elizabeth 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #1 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | Gorham Public Schools | Cape Elizabeth Public Schools |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | Gorham High School | Cape Elizabeth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
12.9Highest |
10.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.