Compare towns
Kingston vs Dover 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
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
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 | Kingston | Dover | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,275Lowest |
33,364Highest |
11,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
| Kingston and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $492,900±$58kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
| Kingston and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$156Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
| Dover and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906 153% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #78 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Dover School District | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Dover Senior High School | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.7 |
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.