Compare towns

Madbury vs Kennebunk vs South Berwick

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madbury has the highest household income ($148k).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
South Berwick has the most affordable homes ($428k median).

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.

MeasureMadburyKennebunkSouth Berwick
People
Population
2,203Lowest
11,820Highest
7,670
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.7±2.1Lowest
3% below U.S.
54.6±3.3Highest
40% above U.S.
39±2.5
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
29%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6
U.S.: 22%
Madbury and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.3%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
51.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
South Berwick and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$148,365±$30kHighest
84% above U.S.
$107,804±$8k
34% above U.S.
$99,572±$13kLowest
23% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$476,900±$31k
43% above U.S.
$487,700±$21kHighest
47% above U.S.
$428,300±$26kLowest
29% above U.S.
Kennebunk and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,574±$759
11% above U.S.
$1,425±$290Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,726±$83Highest
22% above U.S.
South Berwick and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,999
60% above U.S.
$4,956Lowest
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±15.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.1%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5Highest
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
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
4% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
14%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.5%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #9 of 133 in ME #58 of 133 in ME
School district Oyster River Coop School District RSU 21 RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town None in town Kennebunk High School Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.6Lowest
13.0Highest
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.