Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Wells vs Hampton
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 most people working from home (32.5%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k 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 | Wells | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,820 |
11,713Lowest |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Lowest 38% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Kennebunk 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Wells 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Hampton 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 21 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | Wells High School | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.4 |
10.1Lowest |
| 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.