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Kennebunk, ME

Stretch

Living in Kennebunk, ME costs about 19% more than the national average (Cost Index: 119). Housing is the main driver — the typical home value of $429,600 is well above the $303,400 US median. The local median household income is $93,167, which helps frame the place-side housing burden.

Kennebunk sits in the stretch zone: not impossible, but household feasibility will depend heavily on rent, down payment, debt load, and whether you are renting or buying. Start with the verdict panel, then compare scenarios before treating this city as affordable.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Stretch

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Kennebunk.

Monthly Housing
$1,411/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
18%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$5,853/mo
After housing and debt · $1,951/person
Rent vs Buy
Rent first
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ACSRent source: ACSBEA proxy: msaHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 25%
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Cost Index
119
Expensive
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$429,600
Source: Census ACS
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$1,411/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$93,167
National: $78,538
Population
6,008
Purchasing Power
100
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
142 / 100
42% above average
Rent Index
105 / 100
Close to average
Goods & Groceries
97 / 100
About the same as most US cities
Utilities
135 / 100
35% higher utility bills
Healthcare & Services
103 / 100
In line with national average
Overall Index
119
Expensive · 19% above average

Kennebunk Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $429,600 and Maine's property tax rate of 1.36%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$93,167
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
18%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
4.6x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Kennebunk looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Kennebunk, ME

Est. Annual Property Tax
$5,843
Monthly Impact
$487
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
1.36%
National avg: ~1.00%

Maine Place Tax Context

Tax TypeMaineNational Avg
Property Tax Rate1.36%1.00%
Top Income Tax Rate7.15%~5.0%
State Sales Tax5.5%~5.0%

Compare Kennebunk to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Kennebunk, ME
119
105
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Kennebunk, ME: 142
Rent Prices
105

FAQ: Living in Kennebunk

Is Kennebunk, ME an expensive place to live?+

Yes — Kennebunk is about 19% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 119. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $429,600, and monthly rents average roughly $1,411. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.

How does Kennebunk fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,411, while local median household income is $93,167. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 18% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Kennebunk, ME?+

Maine has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 7.15%. The effective property tax rate is 1.36%. On a home worth $429,600, that translates to roughly $5,843 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 5.5% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Kennebunk, ME?+

The typical monthly rent in Kennebunk is around $1,411. That's close to the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $429,600, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Kennebunk, ME?+

The median home in Kennebunk is valued at $429,600. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $2,172/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 71% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Kennebunk?+

Grocery prices in Kennebunk are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 97, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are on the high side (index: 135). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Kennebunk, ME like to live in?+

Kennebunk is a small town with a population of about 6,008. The median age of residents is 54.9, skewing somewhat older — common in established suburban communities. The local poverty rate is 10.57%, near the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Maine

If Kennebunk feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Maine

Use these city pages when you want to compare Kennebunk against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly