Compare towns

Kensington vs South Berwick vs Kennebunk

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Kennebunk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).

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.

MeasureKensingtonSouth BerwickKennebunk
People
Population
2,009Lowest
7,670
11,820Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.3±5.9
11% above U.S.
39±2.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
54.6±3.3Highest
40% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.1%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
South Berwick and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.8%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
51.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
South Berwick and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$165,083±$18kHighest
104% above U.S.
$99,572±$13kLowest
23% above U.S.
$107,804±$8k
34% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$657,700±$47kHighest
98% above U.S.
$428,300±$26kLowest
29% above U.S.
$487,700±$21k
47% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,813±$627Highest
28% above U.S.
$1,726±$83
22% above U.S.
$1,425±$290Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kensington and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,637Highest
209% above U.S.
$4,956Lowest
59% above U.S.
$4,999
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
24.4%±38.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.1%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
South Berwick and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
1.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
19.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.5%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #58 of 133 in ME #9 of 133 in ME
School district Kensington School District RSU 35/MSAD 35 RSU 21
High school in town None in town Marshwood High School Kennebunk High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.0Highest
11.6Lowest
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.