Compare towns

Kennebunk vs Keene 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%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Arundel has the most kids (20.4% under 18).

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.

MeasureKennebunkKeeneArundel
People
Population
11,820
22,939Highest
4,418Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.6±3.3Highest
40% above U.S.
37.6±2.3Lowest
3% below U.S.
40.9±6.4
5% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.4%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Arundel 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%
19.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
51.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
29.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,804±$8kHighest
34% above U.S.
$78,445±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
$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.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% 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
$1,342±$68Lowest
5% 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
$4,999
60% above U.S.
$6,812Highest
118% above U.S.
$3,763Lowest
21% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.1%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
34.2%±22.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Keene 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%
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1992Highest
12 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
Work from home
32.5%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #9 of 133 in ME #81 of 120 in NH #7 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 21 Keene School District RSU 21
High school in town Kennebunk High School Keene High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.6Lowest
12.3Highest
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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.