Compare towns
Eliot vs Kennebunk vs Stratham vs Wells
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%).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
11,820Highest |
7,754 |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Wells 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%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Wells 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% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%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% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells 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. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% 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. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below 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 | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% 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% |
42.1%±19.6 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| 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% |
17.8%±4.2 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 | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 21 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.