Compare towns
Weare vs Kennebunk vs Epping vs Strafford
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).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Kennebunk | Epping | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170 |
11,820Highest |
7,430 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 17% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Weare and Epping 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% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17k 46% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Weare 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. |
$487,700±$21kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214 9% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| Epping and Strafford 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. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Epping 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% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Epping 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 | #9 of 133 in ME | #77 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | RSU 21 | Epping School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Kennebunk High School | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.6Highest |
9.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.