Compare towns
Eliot vs Deerfield vs Kennebunk vs Dover
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 most expensive homes ($499k median).
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% 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 | Deerfield | Kennebunk | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
4,932Lowest |
11,820 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
42.8±4.2 10% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below 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% |
20.9%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Deerfield 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% |
17.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest 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% |
47.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Deerfield 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. |
$131,563±$10kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$421,000±$33kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% 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. |
$1,593±$318 13% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dover 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. |
$7,369 136% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Dover 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Deerfield 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Deerfield School District | RSU 21 | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| 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.