Compare towns
Eliot vs Kennebunk vs Newfields vs South Eliot
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%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
South Eliot has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Newfields | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
11,820Highest |
2,023Lowest |
4,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields 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%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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 26% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
| 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 46% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Newfields 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 | — | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 21 | Newfields School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 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.