Compare towns
Eliot vs Kennebunkport vs Dover vs Kittery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kennebunkport has the most expensive homes ($741k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 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 | Kennebunkport | Dover | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
3,684Lowest |
33,364Highest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
59.1±5Highest 52% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Kennebunkport and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Eliot 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% |
36.9%±8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunkport 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% |
52.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Kittery 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. |
$102,747±$30kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Kennebunkport 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±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$740,500±$109kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,429±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Kittery 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. |
$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.8%±20.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Dover 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% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.6%±9.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunkport and Kittery 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 | #42 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 21 | Dover School District | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.