Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Ogunquit vs Marlow 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
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Marlow has the most affordable homes ($325k median).
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 | Marlow | Scarborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,820 |
1,379 |
855Lowest |
23,215Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest 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. |
52.8±11.7 36% above U.S. |
48.8±2.7Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Marlow 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% |
30.5%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Marlow 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% |
33.4%Lowest 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% |
3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Scarborough 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±$8kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$110,455±$12k 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. |
$325,400±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$551,900±$39k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,154±$160Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,956±$178Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,999 60% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,826 87% above U.S. |
$5,978Highest 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% |
18.2%±95.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±13.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Scarborough and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest 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% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 33% above 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% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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 | — | — | #35 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | — | Marlow School District | Scarborough Public Schools |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | — | None in town | Scarborough High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | — | 11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 4 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.