Compare towns
Sullivan vs Kennebunk vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Kennebunk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Sullivan | Kennebunk | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687 |
11,820Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5 20% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sullivan and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$20k 32% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$487,700±$21kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
$1,425±$290Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099 63% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Nelson 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 | — | RSU 21 | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | — | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.