Compare towns
Plaistow vs Weare 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
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Weare has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Plaistow | Weare | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Lowest |
9,170 |
11,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
45.6±4 17% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Weare and Plaistow 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% |
13.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Weare and Plaistow 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. |
$118,271±$17kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Weare and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
$396,300±$26kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,541±$214 9% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Plaistow and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
$6,272 101% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±24.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Weare 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | John Stark Regional High School | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
11.6Highest |
| 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.