Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Ogunquit vs Exeter vs Scarborough
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 kids (17.7% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Scarborough has the shortest commute (19 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 | Exeter | Scarborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,820 |
1,379Lowest |
16,151 |
23,215Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
48.8±2.7 25% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±2.4 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Scarborough 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$133,558±$21kHighest 65% above U.S. |
| Scarborough 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±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$551,900±$39k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,956±$178Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Scarborough and Exeter 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,978 92% 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% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Scarborough 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±4.2 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #35 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Scarborough Public Schools |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | — | Exeter High School | Scarborough High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | 12.1Highest |
11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.