Compare towns
Paris vs Kennebunk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Paris has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
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.
| Measure | Paris | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 5,317Lowest |
11,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±5.6Lowest 8% above ME |
54.6±3.3Highest 22% above ME |
| Kennebunk and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Kennebunk and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 24.6%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Kennebunk and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
51.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Paris and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $75,137±$20kLowest about the ME average |
$107,804±$8kHighest 44% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$57kLowest 19% below ME |
$487,700±$21kHighest 64% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,425±$290 25% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,649Lowest 13% below ME |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.3%±13.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 9% below ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.4%±10.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunk and Paris 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 | #114 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.