Compare towns
Eliot vs Kennebunk vs South Hampton vs Topsham
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).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
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 | South Hampton | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
11,820Highest |
984Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% 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% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Topsham 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%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 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% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham 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. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$1,889±$489 34% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and South Hampton 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. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Topsham 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 21 | South Hampton School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
| 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.