Compare towns
Kennebunkport vs Bristol vs West Bath
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kennebunkport has the most expensive homes ($741k median).
Bristol has the shortest commute (18 min average).
West Bath has the youngest population (median age 54.2).
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 | Kennebunkport | Bristol | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,684Highest |
2,917 |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.9% ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 59.1±5 32% above ME |
61±3.2Highest 36% above ME |
54.2±5.6Lowest 21% above ME |
| Bristol and Kennebunkport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| West Bath and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 36.9%±8 ME: 22.4% |
42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bristol and Kennebunkport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.3% ME: 36.2% |
52.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
50.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| West Bath and Kennebunkport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,747±$30k 37% above ME |
$100,750±$19kLowest 35% above ME |
$103,333±$27kHighest 38% above ME |
| West Bath and Kennebunkport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,500±$109kHighest 150% above ME |
$406,400±$54kLowest 37% above ME |
$422,800±$102k 43% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$296Highest 25% above ME |
$1,051±$106Lowest 8% below ME |
$1,112±$327 about the ME average |
| Kennebunkport and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914Highest 29% above ME |
$2,668Lowest 12% below ME |
$3,516 16% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.8%±20.1 ME: 48.4% |
23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
41.1%±26.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| West Bath and Kennebunkport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 38% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
21 min 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 31.6%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
25%±8.3 ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±6.9Lowest 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 | RSU 21 | Bristol Public Schools | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.