Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Rye 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Arundel has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Rye | Arundel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,820Highest |
5,611 |
4,418Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
40.9±6.4Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Rye and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Arundel and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Kennebunk 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% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Arundel 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±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$101,597±$17kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Rye 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±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$421,300±$62kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,607±$495 14% above U.S. |
| Rye 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. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$3,763Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 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 9% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #7 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | Rye School District | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.