Compare towns
Dover vs Kennebunkport vs South Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Kennebunkport has the most people working from home (31.6%).
South Eliot has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Dover | Kennebunkport | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
3,684Lowest |
4,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
59.1±5Highest 52% above U.S. |
55.5±8 43% above U.S. |
| Kennebunkport and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
36.9%±8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunkport and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$102,747±$30kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
| Kennebunkport and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$740,500±$109kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,429±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,442 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.8%±20.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.6%±9.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | #42 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Dover School District | RSU 21 | — |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.