Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Ogunquit vs Portsmouth
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%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% 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.
| Measure | Kennebunk | Ogunquit | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,820 |
1,379Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and Portsmouth 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%±2.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit and Portsmouth 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±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| 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±$21kLowest 47% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39k 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,999 60% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,018Highest 157% 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% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth and Kennebunk 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Lowest 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 21 | — | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | — | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.