Compare towns

Eliot vs Hampton Falls vs Plainfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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.

MeasureEliotHampton FallsPlainfieldKennebunk
People
Population
7,146
2,328Lowest
2,522
11,820Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±5.9
31% above U.S.
49.5±7.3
27% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
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%
19.1%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Hampton Falls 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%
25%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
51.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Hampton Falls 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.
$166,157±$14kHighest
106% above U.S.
$122,656±$13k
52% above U.S.
$107,804±$8k
34% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$498,900±$62k
50% above U.S.
$772,600±$76kHighest
132% above U.S.
$442,400±$47kLowest
33% above U.S.
$487,700±$21k
47% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,852±$475
31% above U.S.
$1,674±$181
18% above U.S.
$1,425±$290Lowest
about the U.S. average
Eliot and Hampton Falls 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$7,904
153% above U.S.
$4,999
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.2%±22.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
37.1%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
15% below U.S.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
32.5%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Kennebunk and Hampton Falls 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 — #19 of 120 in NH #9 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 35/MSAD 35 Hampton Falls School District Plainfield School District RSU 21
High school in town None in town None 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.