Compare towns
Eliot vs Exeter vs Kennebunk vs Plainfield
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Kennebunk | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
16,151Highest |
11,820 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Exeter 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. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% 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. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 21 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.6Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.