Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Ogunquit vs Dedham vs Eliot
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Eliot 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 | Ogunquit | Dedham | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,820 |
1,379Lowest |
25,237Highest |
7,146 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Kennebunk 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 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% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Eliot 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Eliot 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | — | Dedham | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | — | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.