Compare towns
Eliot vs Durham vs Kennebunk vs South Eliot
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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
South Eliot has the most affordable homes ($476k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Kennebunk | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
10,681 |
11,820Highest |
4,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
| South Eliot 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% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and Eliot 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Durham 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. |
$498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Eliot 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | RSU 21 | — |
| High school 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.