Compare towns
Eliot vs Northbridge vs Kennebunk 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
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
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 | Northbridge | Kennebunk | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
16,458Highest |
11,820 |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% 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%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 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% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Northbridge 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. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$4,999Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #9 of 133 in ME | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Northbridge | RSU 21 | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | Kennebunk High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
11.6Highest |
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.