Compare towns

Kennebunk vs Ogunquit vs Penobscot vs Kennebunk

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Penobscot has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Kennebunk has the most renters (26.9% rent).

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.

MeasureKennebunkOgunquitPenobscotKennebunk
People
Population
11,820Highest
1,379
1,154Lowest
6,221
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.8%
ME: +2.6%
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-10.1%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+10.8%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
54.6±3.3
22% above ME
62.8±4.8Highest
40% above ME
53.4±5.7Lowest
19% above ME
54.3±7.2
21% above ME
Kids under 18
17.7%±3
ME: 18.1%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
18%±6
ME: 18.1%
18.1%±4.2Highest
ME: 18.1%
Kennebunk and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30%±4Lowest
ME: 22.4%
43.6%±10.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
32%±4.5
ME: 22.4%
30.9%±4.5
ME: 22.4%
Ogunquit and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
51.2%
ME: 36.2%
63.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
32.4%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
52%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.4
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
1%±0.9Lowest
ME: 5.8%
2.3%±2.2
ME: 5.8%
Ogunquit 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±$8k
44% above ME
$114,259±$56kHighest
53% above ME
$63,194±$14kLowest
15% below ME
$95,169±$21k
27% above ME
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
64% above ME
$875,700±$79kHighest
195% above ME
$296,400±$58kLowest
about the ME average
$452,800±$17k
53% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,425±$290
25% above ME
—
$1,141±$33Lowest
about the ME average
$1,466±$261Highest
29% above ME
Kennebunk and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,999Highest
65% above ME
$4,473
47% above ME
$1,852Lowest
39% below ME
$4,771
57% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.1%±10.9
ME: 48.4%
0%±61.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
73.9%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
40.3%±13.2
ME: 48.4%
Penobscot and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.3%
ME: 10.7%
3.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
16%Highest
ME: 10.7%
11.2%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
ME: 74.3%
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
84.2%
ME: 74.3%
73.1%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
6 yrs newer than ME
1978Lowest
1 yr newer than ME
1979
2 yrs newer than ME
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
9% above ME
26 min
7% above ME
25 min
about the ME average
23 minLowest
8% below ME
Work from home
32.5%±7.6
ME: 15.9%
43.3%±12.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
17.7%±13.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
36.6%±10.2
ME: 15.9%
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 — — #9 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 21 — Penobscot Public Schools —
High school in town Kennebunk High School — None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.6
— — —
On TownTapestry
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ME 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.