Compare towns
Plaistow vs Ogunquit vs Kennebunk vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Newton has the highest household income ($138k).
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 | Plaistow | Ogunquit | Kennebunk | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
1,379Lowest |
11,820Highest |
4,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
47.8±5.7 23% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Plaistow and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$138,487±$29kHighest 72% above U.S. |
| Newton and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$459,500±$18k 38% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
— | $1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Newton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 131% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$8,124Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | — | #9 of 133 in ME | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | — | RSU 21 | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | — | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
— |
| 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.