Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Jackson vs Wells
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%).
Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k median).
Wells has the youngest population (median age 53.6).
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 | Jackson | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,820Highest |
897Lowest |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Kennebunk 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% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Jackson 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. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Jackson 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. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,999 60% above U.S. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Jackson 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | Jackson School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.