Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Scarborough vs York vs Kennebunkport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kennebunk has the most affordable homes ($488k median).
Scarborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
York has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Kennebunkport has the most expensive homes ($741k 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.
| Measure | Kennebunk | Scarborough | York | Kennebunkport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,820 |
23,215Highest |
13,986 |
3,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+17%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5% ME: +2.6% |
+4.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3 22% above ME |
48.8±2.7Lowest 9% above ME |
49.5±5.2 10% above ME |
59.1±5Highest 32% above ME |
| Kennebunkport and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3 ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±2 ME: 18.1% |
21.1%±3.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
8%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| York and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30%±4 ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.9%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
36.9%±8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Kennebunkport 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
57.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
53.1% ME: 36.2% |
52.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| 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±$8k 44% above ME |
$133,558±$21kHighest 79% above ME |
$121,250±$25k 62% above ME |
$102,747±$30kLowest 37% above ME |
| Scarborough and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $487,700±$21kLowest 64% above ME |
$551,900±$39k 86% above ME |
$636,400±$30k 115% above ME |
$740,500±$109kHighest 150% above ME |
| Kennebunkport and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290Lowest 25% above ME |
$1,956±$178Highest 72% above ME |
$1,490±$336 31% above ME |
$1,429±$296 25% above ME |
| Scarborough and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,999 65% above ME |
$5,978Highest 97% above ME |
$4,658 53% above ME |
$3,914Lowest 29% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9 ME: 48.4% |
51.9%±13.1 ME: 48.4% |
56.5%±10.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
25.8%±20.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| York 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 ME: 10.7% |
4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
4.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% ME: 74.3% |
77.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
19 minLowest 21% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
34 minHighest 38% above ME |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
24.6%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
31.6%±9.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunk and Kennebunkport 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 | #13 of 133 in ME | #42 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | Scarborough Public Schools | York Public Schools | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | Scarborough High School | York High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.0 |
9.6Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.