Compare towns
Eliot vs Castleton vs Kennebunk vs Kittery
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%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Kittery has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Castleton | Kennebunk | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
4,453Lowest |
11,820Highest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% 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%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Kennebunk 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 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% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% 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. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% 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. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Kittery 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. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,999Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Kittery 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #9 of 133 in ME | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 21 | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.