Compare towns
Eliot vs Kensington vs Plainfield vs Rockport
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 most renters (20.2% rent).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Rockport has the shortest commute (11 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 | Kensington | Plainfield | Rockport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
2,009Lowest |
2,522 |
3,675 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.7±3.7 25% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Rockport 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% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Rockport 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% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rockport and Plainfield 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. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$86,979±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$469,000±$50k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,194±$667Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Kensington 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. |
$9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$5,764 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±42.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Rockport 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% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
11 minLowest 57% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kensington and Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #8 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Kensington School District | Plainfield School District | Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Camden Hills Regional H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.6 |
| 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.