Compare towns
Eliot vs Hartford vs Lebanon 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).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% 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.
| Measure | Eliot | Hartford | Lebanon | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
10,736 |
14,999Highest |
11,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest 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%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford 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% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6Lowest 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% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Hartford 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. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Eliot 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. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% 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. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Lebanon 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. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Lebanon 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #29 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hartford School District | Lebanon School District | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hartford High School | Lebanon High School | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6Lowest |
11.7Highest |
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.