Compare towns
Eliot vs Kennebunk vs Rockport vs South Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Rockport has the shortest commute (11 min average).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Rockport | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
11,820Highest |
3,675Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+9.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 13% above ME |
54.6±3.3Highest 22% above ME |
48.7±3.7 9% above ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Rockport 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%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.2%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| 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% ME: 36.2% |
51.2% ME: 36.2% |
51.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Rockport and South Berwick 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 |
$86,979±$16kLowest 16% above ME |
$99,572±$13k 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 |
$469,000±$50k 58% above ME |
$428,300±$26kLowest 44% 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±$471Highest 71% above ME |
$1,425±$290 25% above ME |
$1,194±$667Lowest 5% above ME |
$1,726±$83 52% above ME |
| Eliot and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 50% above ME |
$4,999 65% above ME |
$5,764Highest 90% above ME |
$4,956 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±42.9 ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Eliot and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% ME: 74.3% |
80.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 9% below ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
11 minLowest 54% below ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME | #8 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 21 | Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | Camden Hills Regional H S | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Lowest |
12.6 |
13.0Highest |
| 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.