Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Stow 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 the oldest population (median age 54.6).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
Arundel has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Stow | Arundel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,820Highest |
7,165 |
4,418Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
40.9±6.4Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Stow and Arundel 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% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stow and Arundel 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. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$101,597±$17kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$421,300±$62kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,782±$126Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,607±$495 14% above U.S. |
| Stow 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,763Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 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 |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow and Kennebunk 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #7 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | Nashoba | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.