What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).

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	Plaistow
People
Population	11,820Highest	7,861Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S.	40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plaistow 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%	17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plaistow 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.	$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S.
	Plaistow and Kennebunk 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.	$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S.
	Plaistow 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.	$7,194Highest 131% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plaistow 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%	4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#9 of 133 in ME	#66 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 21	Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town	Kennebunk High School	Timberlane Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	11.4Lowest
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.