Compare towns
Kennebunkport vs Dedham vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kennebunkport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Bristol has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Dedham | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,684 |
25,237Highest |
2,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.1±5 52% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
61±3.2Highest 57% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 36.9%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.8%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,747±$30k 27% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$100,750±$19kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Dedham 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 123% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$406,400±$54kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Kennebunkport and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$296 about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,051±$106Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 25% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$2,668Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.8%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.4%±19.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.6%±9.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #16 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | Dedham | Bristol Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | 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.