Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Peterborough vs Peterborough
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Peterborough has the most affordable homes ($379k median).
Peterborough has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Peterborough | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,820Highest |
2,539Lowest |
6,408 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
55.5±9.2Highest 43% above U.S. |
52.1±1.9Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Peterborough and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peterborough and Peterborough 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% |
57.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kennebunk and Peterborough 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. |
$85,833±$15kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$98,401±$8k 22% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $487,700±$21kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$379,300±$57kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$404,500±$31k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$1,515±$290Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,395±$209Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Peterborough 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. |
$7,422 138% above U.S. |
$8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Kennebunk and Peterborough 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 133 in ME | #59 of 120 in NH | #59 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 21 | — | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | — | Conval Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| 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.