Compare towns
York vs Kennebunk vs South Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
York has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Kennebunk | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,986Highest |
11,820 |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±5.2 10% above ME |
54.6±3.3Highest 22% above ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
| 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%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
30%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| 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 ME: 36.2% |
51.2% ME: 36.2% |
41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| South Berwick 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 62% above ME |
$107,804±$8k 44% above ME |
$99,572±$13kLowest 33% above ME |
| York and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $636,400±$30kHighest 115% above ME |
$487,700±$21k 64% above ME |
$428,300±$26kLowest 44% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,490±$336 31% above ME |
$1,425±$290Lowest 25% above ME |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
| South Berwick and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,658Lowest 53% above ME |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
$4,956 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±10.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
| York and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 4% below ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 26%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | #9 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | York Public Schools | RSU 21 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | York High School | Kennebunk High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.6 |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.