Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Lyman vs Freeport vs York
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 most people working from home (32.5%).
Lyman has the most affordable homes ($360k median).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
York has the most expensive homes ($636k 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 | Lyman | Freeport | York |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,820 |
4,612Lowest |
8,802 |
13,986Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3Highest 22% above ME |
53.8±2 20% above ME |
48.8±4.3Lowest 9% above ME |
49.5±5.2 10% above ME |
| Kennebunk and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3 ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
21.1%±3.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| York and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±6.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.7%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
27.9%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Kennebunk and York 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% |
25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
53.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Freeport and Lyman 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 44% above ME |
$87,284±$14kLowest 17% above ME |
$107,326±$19k 44% above ME |
$121,250±$25kHighest 62% above ME |
| York 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 64% above ME |
$360,400±$44kLowest 22% above ME |
$508,400±$76k 71% above ME |
$636,400±$30kHighest 115% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290 25% above ME |
$1,063±$522Lowest 7% below ME |
$1,439±$123 26% above ME |
$1,490±$336Highest 31% above ME |
| York and Freeport 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 |
$2,717Lowest 11% below ME |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$4,658 53% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
56.5%±10.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Freeport and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.5% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% ME: 74.3% |
95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
26%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunk and York 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 | #40 of 133 in ME | #4 of 133 in ME | #13 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 05 | York Public Schools |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town | Freeport High School | York High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | 12.2Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.