Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Lyme vs York
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 affordable homes ($488k median).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
York has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
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 | Lyme | York |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,820 |
1,710Lowest |
13,986Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
49.5±5.2 27% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| York and Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lyme 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±$8kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$121,250±$25k 50% above U.S. |
| Lyme and York 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. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$636,400±$30k 91% above U.S. |
| Lyme and York 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 |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,490±$336Highest 5% above U.S. |
| York 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,658Lowest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±10.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| York and Lyme 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
26%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Lyme 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 | — | #13 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | Lyme School District | York Public Schools |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town | York High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 9.6Lowest |
| 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.