Compare towns
Eliot vs Stratham vs Kennebunk 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%).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
South Eliot has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Stratham | Kennebunk | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
7,754 |
11,820Highest |
4,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
| South Eliot 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot 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% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stratham and Kennebunk 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. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,155±$292 53% above U.S. |
| Stratham and South 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. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Stratham 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | RSU 21 | — |
| High school 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.