Compare towns
Kennebunk vs York vs Rye
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 affordable homes ($488k median).
York has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | York | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,820 |
13,986Highest |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
49.5±5.2Lowest 27% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Rye and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| York and Rye 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% |
27.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kennebunk and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,804±$8kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$121,250±$25k 50% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S. |
$636,400±$30k 91% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,490±$336 5% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Rye and York 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. |
$4,658Lowest 49% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±10.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| York and Rye 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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Rye 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 | #13 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 21 | York Public Schools | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | York High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
9.6Lowest |
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| 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.