Compare towns
Eliot vs Kennebunk vs Stratham vs South Berwick
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%).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Stratham | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
11,820Highest |
7,754 |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Berwick and Stratham 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. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Eliot 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. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% 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% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 21 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| 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.