What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kennebunkport has the most expensive homes ($814k median).

Bristol has the most kids (13.9% under 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Kennebunkport	Bristol
People
Population	1,276Lowest	2,917Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+2.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	63.1±4.2Highest 41% above ME	61±3.2Lowest 36% above ME
	Kennebunkport and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	5.2%±5.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	13.9%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Bristol and Kennebunkport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	45.3%±7.8Highest ME: 22.4%	42.8%±8.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Kennebunkport and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.6%Highest ME: 36.2%	52.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	1.4%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Bristol and Kennebunkport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,189±$24kHighest 62% above ME	$100,750±$19kLowest 35% above ME
	Kennebunkport and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$814,400±$148kHighest 175% above ME	$406,400±$54kLowest 37% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,051±$106 8% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,255Highest 40% above ME	$2,668Lowest 12% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±45.9Highest ME: 48.4%	23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Kennebunkport and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.8%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.3%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME	1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	44 minHighest 79% above ME	18 minLowest 28% below ME
Work from home	41.4%±14.4Highest ME: 15.9%	25%±8.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Kennebunkport and Bristol 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	#42 of 133 in ME	#16 of 133 in ME
School district	—	Bristol Public Schools
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.