Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Wolfeboro vs Hampton Beach 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 most people working from home (32.5%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Arundel has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Wolfeboro | Hampton Beach | Arundel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,820Highest |
6,571 |
2,605Lowest |
4,418 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
57±1.8 47% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
40.9±6.4Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Wolfeboro 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% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Arundel and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton Beach 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% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Arundel and Wolfeboro 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. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$101,597±$17k 26% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Arundel 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. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$421,300±$62kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,607±$495Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Arundel 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. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,763Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.2%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Kennebunk 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Hampton Beach 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | — | #7 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | Kingswood Regional High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.