What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Madison has the most affordable homes ($188k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Kennebunk	Madison
People
Population	11,820Highest	4,782Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-2.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	54.6±3.3Highest 22% above ME	49.6±3.4Lowest 11% above ME
	Kennebunk and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±3Highest ME: 18.1%	14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Kennebunk and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30%±4Highest ME: 22.4%	25.1%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Kennebunk and Madison 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 ME: 36.2%	21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Madison 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 44% above ME	$61,747±$11kLowest 17% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$487,700±$21kHighest 64% above ME	$187,600±$40kLowest 37% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$290Highest 25% above ME	$906±$247Lowest 20% below ME
	Kennebunk and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,999Highest 65% above ME	$1,983Lowest 35% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.1%±10.9Highest ME: 48.4%	30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Kennebunk and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%	15%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 min 9% above ME	27 min 9% above ME
Work from home	32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9%	19.3%±10.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Kennebunk and Madison 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	—
School district	RSU 21	RSU 59/MSAD 59
High school in town	Kennebunk High School	Madison Jr/Sr High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	10.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.