Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Plaistow vs Arundel
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%).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Arundel 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 | Plaistow | Arundel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,820Highest |
7,861 |
4,418Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
40.9±6.4 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Arundel and Plaistow 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%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Arundel and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$101,597±$17kLowest 26% 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. |
$421,300±$62k 27% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,607±$495 14% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,999 60% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
$3,763Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.2%±22.7Lowest 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 133 in ME | #66 of 120 in NH | #7 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | Timberlane Regional School District | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.