Compare towns

Eliot vs Canterbury 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%).
Canterbury has the highest household income ($129k).
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.

MeasureEliotCanterburyKennebunk
People
Population
7,146
2,353Lowest
11,820Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±5.9
31% above U.S.
48.6±3.8Lowest
25% 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%
17.4%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Kennebunk and Canterbury 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%
22.9%±3.3Lowest
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+
43.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
51.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.8%±3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Canterbury and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,522±$10kLowest
26% above U.S.
$129,333±$37kHighest
60% above U.S.
$107,804±$8k
34% above U.S.
Canterbury 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.
$443,700±$21kLowest
33% 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
$1,948±$471
38% above U.S.
$2,136±$233Highest
51% above U.S.
$1,425±$290Lowest
about the U.S. average
Canterbury and Eliot 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.
$7,421Highest
138% above U.S.
$4,999
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.1%±20.1
U.S.: 51.1%
71.7%±48.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.1%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Canterbury and Eliot 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%
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.6%±7.4
U.S.: 15.1%
32.5%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Kennebunk and Canterbury 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 RSU 35/MSAD 35 Shaker Regional School District RSU 21
High school in town None in town None in town Kennebunk High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.6
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.