Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Stratham vs Dover
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).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Stratham | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,820 |
7,754Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Stratham 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. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 21 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| 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.