What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Kingston has the most renters (25.6% rent).

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	Kingston
People
Population	11,820Highest	6,275Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.6±3.3Lowest 40% above U.S.	55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S.
	Kingston and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Kennebunk and Kingston 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%	24.7%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Kennebunk and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Kingston 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.	$105,330±$12kLowest 30% above U.S.
	Kennebunk and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S.	$492,900±$58kHighest 48% above U.S.
	Kingston and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$290Highest about the U.S. average	$1,393±$156Lowest about the U.S. average
	Kennebunk and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S.	$7,906Highest 153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	46.9%±46.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Kingston 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 U.S.: 12.5%	2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	34 minHighest 29% above U.S.
Work from home	32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#9 of 133 in ME	#78 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 21	Sanborn Regional School District
High school in town	Kennebunk High School	Sanborn Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Lowest	12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.