What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

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	Pelham
People
Population	11,820Lowest	14,449Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S.	41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%	22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Pelham 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%	16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,804±$8kLowest 34% above U.S.	$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S.	$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average	$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S.	$8,634Highest 177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	22.8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Kennebunk and Pelham 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	#48 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 21	Pelham School District
High school in town	Kennebunk High School	Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.