| Factor | Kennebunkport, ME | Nantucket, MA |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Year-round road; Portland airport 35 min | Ferry or air only |
| Transfer cost | None | 2% Land Bank |
| Architectural regulation | None (no HDC) | HDC covers most of town |
| Peak social concentration | Lower | Very high |
| Year-round livability | Moderate-strong | Limited |
| Market depth $5M+ | Thin | Strong |
When Kennebunkport Is the Right Choice
The buyer who values privacy over visibility, who finds island logistics constraining, who does not want to pay the Land Bank fee or navigate HDC on renovation projects, and who is specifically drawn to Maine's granite-and-spruce coastal character. This buyer is not making a less expensive choice - the prestige tier pricing is comparable. They are making a different choice.
When Nantucket Is the Right Choice
The buyer who specifically wants the Nantucket social community, values the structural supply constraint as a long-term thesis, finds island isolation a feature rather than a cost, and needs the deeper and more liquid market above $5M that Nantucket provides.