Compare towns
Weare vs Dover 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
Weare has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
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 | Weare | Dover | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,170Lowest |
33,364Highest |
11,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 17% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Weare and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| Weare and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214 9% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dover and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272 101% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Weare and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Dover School District | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Dover Senior High School | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.7Highest |
11.6 |
| 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.