Compare towns
Eliot vs Nottingham vs Kennebunk vs Wells
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).
Nottingham has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Nottingham | Kennebunk | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
5,357Lowest |
11,820Highest |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
38.8±6.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Wells 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% |
23.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Nottingham and Wells 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% |
18.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Kennebunk 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% |
40.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Nottingham and Wells 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. |
$122,201±$20kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Nottingham 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. |
$457,500±$26kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% 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±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,068±$1kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Nottingham and Eliot 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. |
$7,319Highest 135% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
92.1%±44.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nottingham and Eliot 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Nottingham School District | RSU 21 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.