Compare towns
Eliot vs Hudson vs Dover 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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Hudson has the most kids (19.3% under 18).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% 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 | Hudson | Dover | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
20,077 |
33,364Highest |
11,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7 10% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below 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%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hudson 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% |
20.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest 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% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Hudson 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. |
$103,400±$13k 28% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Hudson 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. |
$496,800±$22k 49% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hudson 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. |
$1,406±$82Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Dover 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. |
$6,892 121% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Dover 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% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | #224 of 282 in MA | #64 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hudson | Dover School District | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hudson High | Dover Senior High School | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.2Lowest |
12.7Highest |
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.