Compare towns
Eliot vs Kennebunk vs Kittery vs South Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Kittery has the most renters (32.8% rent).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Kennebunk | Kittery | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
11,820Highest |
10,473 |
4,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
+4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 13% above ME |
54.6±3.3 22% above ME |
46.8±2.3Lowest 4% above ME |
55.5±8Highest 24% above ME |
| South Eliot 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 ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
30%±4 ME: 22.4% |
26.9%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32.8%±6.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| South Eliot 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
51.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
46% ME: 36.2% |
49.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Kittery and Kennebunk 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 36% above ME |
$107,804±$8kHighest 44% above ME |
$93,728±$14kLowest 25% above ME |
$99,299±$9k 33% above ME |
| 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 68% above ME |
$487,700±$21k 64% above ME |
$468,500±$31kLowest 58% above ME |
$475,600±$52k 60% above ME |
| 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±$471 71% above ME |
$1,425±$290Lowest 25% above ME |
$1,716±$224 51% above ME |
$2,155±$292Highest 89% above ME |
| South Eliot and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 50% above ME |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
$4,518 49% above ME |
$4,442Lowest 46% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.9 ME: 48.4% |
64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| South Eliot and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
5.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
67.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1973 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 9% below ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
21 min 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
22.7%±7.2 ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunk and Kittery 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 | #9 of 133 in ME | #17 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 21 | Kittery Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | Robert W Traip Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
9.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.