Compare towns

Eliot vs Epping vs Dover 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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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.

MeasureEliotEppingDoverKennebunk
People
Population
7,146Lowest
7,430
33,364Highest
11,820
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±5.9
31% above U.S.
45.1±3.5
16% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
54.6±3.3Highest
40% above U.S.
Kennebunk and Eliot 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%
18.7%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
Epping 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%
22.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
37%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
51.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±3.3
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Epping 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.
$104,220±$7k
29% above U.S.
$94,829±$7kLowest
17% above U.S.
$107,804±$8kHighest
34% above U.S.
Kennebunk and Epping 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.
$436,900±$35k
31% above U.S.
$436,700±$20kLowest
31% 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.
$1,742±$576
23% above U.S.
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
$1,425±$290Lowest
about the U.S. average
Eliot and Epping 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.
$6,936
122% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$4,999
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.1%±20.1
U.S.: 51.1%
67.8%±25.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
37.1%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Epping 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%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
32.5%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Kennebunk and Epping 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 #77 of 120 in NH #64 of 120 in NH #9 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 35/MSAD 35 Epping School District Dover School District RSU 21
High school in town None in town Epping High School Dover Senior High School Kennebunk High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.3Lowest
12.7Highest
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.