Compare towns
Eliot vs Dorchester vs Norwich 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
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Eliot | Dorchester | Norwich | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
410Lowest |
3,640 |
11,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
| Dorchester and Kennebunk 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% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich 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% |
39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Kennebunk 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% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich 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. |
— | $140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
— | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Norwich 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. |
$3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Kennebunk 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% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs 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 min 15% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Norwich 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | Norwich 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 | 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.