What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kennebunk has the most homeowners (80.6%).

Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Kennebunk	Portsmouth
People
Population	11,820Lowest	22,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S.	42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Kennebunk and Portsmouth 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%	21.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	64%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Portsmouth 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±$8kHighest 34% above U.S.	$106,219±$7kLowest 32% above U.S.
	Kennebunk and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S.	$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S.	$8,018Highest 157% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Portsmouth 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%	6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.
Work from home	32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Kennebunk and Portsmouth 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	#11 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 21	Portsmouth School District
High school in town	Kennebunk High School	Portsmouth 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.