Compare towns
Sharon vs Kennebunk vs Barnet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sharon has the youngest population (median age 45.6).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k 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.
| Measure | Sharon | Kennebunk | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577Lowest |
11,820Highest |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kennebunk and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$1,425±$290Highest about the U.S. average |
$974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$4,489Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #9 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | RSU 21 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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 | 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.