Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Pepperell vs North Hampton
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 people working from home (32.5%).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k 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.
| Measure | Kennebunk | Pepperell | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,820Highest |
11,663 |
4,543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell and North Hampton 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% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk and North Hampton 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% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell 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±$8kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Pepperell 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. |
$482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and North Hampton 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 21 | North Middlesex | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.