Compare towns
Eliot vs Portsmouth vs Wilmot 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Wilmot has the most affordable homes ($400k 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 | Wilmot | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
22,545Highest |
1,487Lowest |
11,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest 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. |
53±2.4 36% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Wilmot 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% |
17.1%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and Wilmot 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% |
24.3%±4.6 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% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Portsmouth and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$117,759±$15kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| Wilmot 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±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$399,600±$43kLowest 20% 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. |
$1,125±$289Lowest 20% 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 | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,018Highest 157% above U.S. |
$6,651 113% 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% |
41.1%±41.8 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest 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% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.8 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 | — | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Portsmouth School District | — | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | — | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| 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.