Compare towns
Eliot vs Enfield vs Exeter 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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Enfield has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Enfield | Exeter | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
4,475Lowest |
16,151Highest |
11,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
58.3±5.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
| Enfield 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% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and Exeter 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% |
30.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Enfield 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% |
43%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Enfield 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. |
$95,474±$19kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$390,800±$71kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% 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. |
$1,181±$563Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Exeter 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. |
$6,203 99% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.8%±16.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Eliot 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% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | #5 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.