Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Plainfield vs Scarborough
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%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Scarborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Plainfield | Scarborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,820 |
2,522Lowest |
23,215Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.8±2.7 25% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk and Scarborough 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% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Scarborough 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. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$133,558±$21kHighest 65% above U.S. |
| Scarborough and Plainfield 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. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$551,900±$39kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,956±$178Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Scarborough and Plainfield 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,978 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±13.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Scarborough 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Scarborough 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #35 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | Plainfield School District | Scarborough Public Schools |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town | Scarborough High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 11.0Lowest |
| 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.