Compare towns
Kennebunk vs South Berwick vs Scarborough 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 people working from home (32.5%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Scarborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | South Berwick | Scarborough | Kennebunkport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,820 |
7,670 |
23,215Highest |
3,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+17%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3 22% above ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
48.8±2.7 9% 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% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±2 ME: 18.1% |
8%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick 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% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±2.4 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% ME: 36.2% |
41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
57.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
52.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Scarborough and South Berwick 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 |
$99,572±$13kLowest 33% above ME |
$133,558±$21kHighest 79% above ME |
$102,747±$30k 37% above ME |
| Scarborough 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 64% above ME |
$428,300±$26kLowest 44% above ME |
$551,900±$39k 86% above ME |
$740,500±$109kHighest 150% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290Lowest 25% above ME |
$1,726±$83 52% above ME |
$1,956±$178Highest 72% above ME |
$1,429±$296 25% above ME |
| Scarborough and South Berwick 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 |
$4,956 63% above ME |
$5,978Highest 97% above ME |
$3,914Lowest 29% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9 ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
51.9%±13.1 ME: 48.4% |
25.8%±20.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| South Berwick 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% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.4% ME: 10.7% |
4.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.3% ME: 74.3% |
77.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
19 minLowest 21% below ME |
34 minHighest 38% above ME |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.6%±4.2 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #35 of 133 in ME | #42 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Scarborough Public Schools | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | Marshwood High School | Scarborough High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
13.0Highest |
11.0Lowest |
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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.