Compare towns
Eliot vs Hampton vs Lyme 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 has the most renters (26.2% rent).
Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).
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 | Hampton | Lyme | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
16,426Highest |
1,710Lowest |
11,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lyme and Hampton 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. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Hampton 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. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Hampton 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. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older 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. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Lyme 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | — | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Lyme School District | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| 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.