Compare towns
Eliot vs Barnstead vs Kennebunk vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Barnstead has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Eliot | Barnstead | Kennebunk | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
4,994Lowest |
11,820Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% 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 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 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+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25k 9% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% 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 | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | #111 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Barnstead School District | RSU 21 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.