Compare towns
Eliot vs Portsmouth vs Topsham 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
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
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 | Portsmouth | Topsham | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
22,545Highest |
9,706 |
11,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% 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%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham 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% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 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% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Portsmouth 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. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Portsmouth 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. |
$8,018Highest 157% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Portsmouth 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Portsmouth 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Portsmouth School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Mt Ararat High School | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.2Highest |
11.6 |
| 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.