Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Nelson vs Ogunquit vs Arundel
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 renters (19.4% rent).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Arundel has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Nelson | Ogunquit | Arundel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,820Highest |
648Lowest |
1,379 |
4,418 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
40.9±6.4Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit and Arundel 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 34% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$101,597±$17k 26% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$421,300±$62k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— | $1,607±$495Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Arundel 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. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,763Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.2%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nelson 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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 | — | — | #7 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | Nelson School District | — | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.