Compare towns
Eliot vs Hanover vs Newington 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%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Newington has the most homeowners (86.9%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Newington | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
11,685 |
939Lowest |
11,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
48.7±10.1 25% above 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%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and Eliot 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% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11 U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk and Newington 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% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46k 81% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61k 148% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S. |
| Newington and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Newington and Hanover 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. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Newington 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | — | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Newington School District | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
— | 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.