What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Newport has the most affordable homes ($179k 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	Newport
People
Population	11,820Highest	4,394Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S.	46.4±4.3Lowest 19% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	13.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Kennebunk and Newport 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%	25.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Kennebunk and Newport 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 U.S.: 35.7%	25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newport 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 34% above U.S.	$54,646±$12kLowest 32% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$487,700±$21kHighest 47% above U.S.	$179,400±$11kLowest 46% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$290Highest about the U.S. average	$850±$49Lowest 40% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,999Highest 60% above U.S.	$4,036Lowest 29% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.2%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newport and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	23%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	57.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	15 minLowest 45% below U.S.
Work from home	32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.8%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Kennebunk and Newport 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	#63 of 70 in VT
School district	RSU 21	Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District
High school in town	Kennebunk High School	North Country Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.