Compare towns
Dorset vs Eliot vs Kennebunk vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
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 | Dorset | Eliot | Kennebunk | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
7,146 |
11,820Highest |
2,090Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Lowest 17% 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 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 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+ | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dorset and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Dorset and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Dorset 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 | — | #19 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 21 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.