Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Lebanon vs Durham
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 homeowners (80.6%).
Lebanon has the most affordable homes ($385k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Lebanon | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,820 |
14,999Highest |
10,681Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and Lebanon 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% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Durham 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. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Durham and Kennebunk 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 |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Lebanon and Kennebunk 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. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Lebanon 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% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 21 | Lebanon School District | — |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | Lebanon High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
11.7Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.