Compare towns
Eliot vs Kensington vs South Berwick vs Kennebunk
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%).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
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 | South Berwick | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
2,009Lowest |
7,670 |
11,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% 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% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Kennebunk 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% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest 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% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%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% |
4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Berwick and Kensington 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. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% 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% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and South Berwick 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | — | #58 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Kensington School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.0Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| 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.