Compare towns
Townsend vs Ogunquit vs Kennebunk vs Ashby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Kennebunk has the most renters (19.4% rent).
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k 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 | Townsend | Ogunquit | Kennebunk | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
1,379Lowest |
11,820Highest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 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+ | 35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
— | $1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 93% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | — | #9 of 133 in ME | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | RSU 21 | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | — | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.