Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Scarborough vs Upton
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%).
Scarborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Scarborough | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,820 |
23,215Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
48.8±2.7 25% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% 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% |
16.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
24.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Scarborough 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. |
$133,558±$21k 65% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Scarborough 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. |
$551,900±$39k 66% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Upton and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$1,956±$178Highest 38% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$5,978 92% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Scarborough 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% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest 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 | #35 of 133 in ME | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | RSU 21 | Scarborough Public Schools | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | Scarborough High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.0Lowest |
11.2 |
| 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.