Compare towns
Kennebunkport vs Waterville vs Lewiston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kennebunkport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Lewiston has the most kids (20.6% 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.
| Measure | Kennebunkport | Waterville | Lewiston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,684Lowest |
17,077 |
38,324Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 59.1±5Highest 32% above ME |
35.5±2.5Lowest 21% below ME |
37.3±1.2 17% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 8%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.4%±2.4 ME: 18.1% |
20.6%±1.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 36.9%±8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.8% ME: 36.2% |
22.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
10.1%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,747±$30kHighest 37% above ME |
$53,580±$4kLowest 28% below ME |
$55,393±$4k 26% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,500±$109kHighest 150% above ME |
$184,600±$21kLowest 38% below ME |
$235,100±$8k 21% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$296Highest 25% above ME |
$978±$72Lowest 14% below ME |
$986±$44 13% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914Highest 29% above ME |
$2,755Lowest 9% below ME |
$2,899 5% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.8%±20.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.5%±8.7 ME: 48.4% |
51.7%±5.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Lewiston and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
20% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
51.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1959 18 yrs older than ME |
1957Lowest 20 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 38% above ME |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
21 min 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 31.6%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.6%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunkport and Waterville 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 | #105 of 133 in ME | #132 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | Waterville Public Schools | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy |
| High school in town | None in town | Waterville Senior High School | Lewiston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.