Compare towns
Eliot vs Canterbury vs Kensington
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 most people working from home (21.6%).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k 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 | Eliot | Canterbury | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
2,353 |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
48.6±3.8 25% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Canterbury 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%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Canterbury and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Canterbury 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canterbury and Kensington 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±$37k 60% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$443,700±$21kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,136±$233Highest 51% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$7,421 138% above U.S. |
$9,637Highest 209% 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% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canterbury and Kensington 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 | — | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Shaker Regional School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.