Compare towns
Deerfield vs Dover vs Eliot 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
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k 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 | Deerfield | Dover | Eliot | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932Lowest |
33,364Highest |
7,146 |
11,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2 10% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Deerfield and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,563±$10kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $421,000±$33kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318 13% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,369 136% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Deerfield 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Dover School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.