What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).

Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k 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	Stoneham
People
Population	11,820Lowest	23,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S.	42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Stoneham 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%	20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stoneham 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.	$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S.
	Stoneham 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±$21kLowest 47% above U.S.	$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average	$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S.	$6,523Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	41.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stoneham 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%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	24.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Kennebunk and Stoneham 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	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 21	Stoneham
High school in town	Kennebunk High School	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.