Compare towns
Eliot vs Bethlehem 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
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Kennebunk has the oldest population (median age 54.6).
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 | Bethlehem | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146 |
2,537Lowest |
11,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
50.6±8.5Lowest 30% 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 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kennebunk and Eliot 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. |
$85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Eliot 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. |
$288,300±$22kLowest 13% below 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 | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,425±$290 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 | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,418Highest 74% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±12.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Bethlehem 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 | #34 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | Profile Senior High School | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
11.6Highest |
| 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.