Compare towns
Eliot vs Dresden vs Kennebunk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
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 | Dresden | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146 |
1,645Lowest |
11,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Lowest 13% above ME |
55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME |
54.6±3.3 22% above ME |
| Dresden and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Kennebunk and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| 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% ME: 36.2% |
30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
51.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Dresden 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±$10k 36% above ME |
$74,844±$22kLowest about the ME average |
$107,804±$8kHighest 44% above ME |
| 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 68% above ME |
$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME |
$487,700±$21k 64% above ME |
| 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 71% above ME |
$1,194±$502Lowest 5% above ME |
$1,425±$290 25% above ME |
| Eliot and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 50% above ME |
$2,500Lowest 18% below ME |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9 ME: 48.4% |
| 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 9% below ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | — | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 02 | 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 History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
ME 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.