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.
| Measure | York | Barnstead | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| 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.

