Compare towns
Eliot vs South Hampton vs Franconia 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 the most renters (20.2% rent).
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
Franconia has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | South Hampton | Franconia | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
984Lowest |
1,060 |
11,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
55.6±7Highest 43% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
| Franconia and Kennebunk 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% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton 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% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
36.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franconia 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franconia and South Hampton 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. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$87,292±$28kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| South Hampton 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. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$530,300±$96k 59% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Franconia 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. |
$1,889±$489 34% above U.S. |
$1,281±$278Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and South Hampton 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. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$7,451 139% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franconia 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | — | — | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | South Hampton School District | Lafayette Regional School District | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 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.