Compare towns

Eliot vs Dover vs Newbury 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 the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Newbury has the most homeowners (87.7%).
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.

MeasureEliotDoverNewburyKennebunk
People
Population
7,146
33,364Highest
2,027Lowest
11,820
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±5.9
31% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
53.3±3.6
37% above U.S.
54.6±3.3Highest
40% above U.S.
Kennebunk and Newbury 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%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
17%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Kennebunk and Newbury 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%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.6%±3.7
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%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
51.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Newbury 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.
$94,829±$7kLowest
17% above U.S.
$116,477±$18kHighest
44% above U.S.
$107,804±$8k
34% above U.S.
Newbury 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.
$436,700±$20kLowest
31% above U.S.
$463,400±$36k
39% 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±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
—
$1,425±$290Lowest
about the U.S. average
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.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$5,695
83% above U.S.
$4,999
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
50%±24.1
U.S.: 51.1%
37.1%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot and Newbury 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%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
23 min
14% 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%
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
20.1%±7.3
U.S.: 15.1%
32.5%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Kennebunk and Newbury 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 #64 of 120 in NH — #9 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 35/MSAD 35 Dover School District — RSU 21
High school in town None in town Dover Senior High School — Kennebunk High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.7Highest
—
11.6Lowest
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.