Compare towns
Nelson vs Ogunquit vs Kennebunk vs Harrisville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Kennebunk has the most renters (19.4% rent).
Harrisville has the oldest housing (typical home built 1965).
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 | Nelson | Ogunquit | Kennebunk | Harrisville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 648Lowest |
1,379 |
11,820Highest |
885 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
58.9±5.5 51% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Harrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.8%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Harrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$103,036±$13k 28% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$430,500±$48k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— | $1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$1,611±$367Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Harrisville and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$5,329 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
35%±90.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nelson and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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 | — | — | #9 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | — | RSU 21 | Harrisville School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.