Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Wolfeboro vs Wells
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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,820Highest |
6,571Lowest |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro 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% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Wells 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% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells 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. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Wolfeboro 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. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,999Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% 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% |
42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells 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% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Wolfeboro 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 | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.