What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).

Peabody has the most expensive homes ($596k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Kennebunk	Peabody
People
Population	11,820Lowest	54,695Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S.	45.3±2.4Lowest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Peabody and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Kennebunk and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Peabody 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±$8kHighest 34% above U.S.	$96,657±$4kLowest 20% above U.S.
	Kennebunk and Peabody 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.	$596,200±$12kHighest 79% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,950±$99Highest 38% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S.	$5,065Highest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#9 of 133 in ME	#228 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 21	Peabody
High school in town	Kennebunk High School	Peabody Veterans Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.