Compare towns
Eliot vs Needham vs Needham 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 the shortest commute (23 min average).
Kennebunk has the oldest population (median age 54.6).
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 | Needham | Needham | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
32,459Highest |
32,459Highest |
11,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Needham 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 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | Needham | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Needham High | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.