Compare towns
Eliot vs Plainfield vs Kensington vs South Eliot
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%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Plainfield | Kensington | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
2,522 |
2,009Lowest |
4,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
| South Eliot 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Kensington 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot 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% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
| South Eliot 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. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Plainfield School District | Kensington School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.