Compare towns

York vs Barnstead 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

York has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
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.

MeasureYorkBarnsteadKennebunk
People
Population
13,986Highest
4,994Lowest
11,820
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.5±5.2
27% above U.S.
42.8±3.1Lowest
10% above U.S.
54.6±3.3Highest
40% above U.S.
Kennebunk and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.1%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
21%±5
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
York and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.9%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Kennebunk and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
51.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Barnstead and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$121,250±$25kHighest
50% above U.S.
$111,660±$12k
38% above U.S.
$107,804±$8kLowest
34% above U.S.
York and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$636,400±$30kHighest
91% above U.S.
$362,400±$25kLowest
9% above U.S.
$487,700±$21k
47% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,490±$336Highest
5% above U.S.
$1,395±$75Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,425±$290
about the U.S. average
York and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,658Lowest
49% above U.S.
$6,003Highest
92% above U.S.
$4,999
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.5%±10.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.6%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
37.1%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
York and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
26%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.5%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Kennebunk and York 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 #13 of 133 in ME #111 of 120 in NH #9 of 133 in ME
School district York Public Schools Barnstead School District RSU 21
High school in town York High School None in town Kennebunk High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.6Lowest
—
11.6Highest
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.