Compare towns
Eliot vs Stratham vs Kittery 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%).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
Kittery has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Stratham | Kittery | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
7,754 |
10,473 |
11,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 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% |
26.9%±4.9 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% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Stratham 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. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Stratham 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. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham 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% |
2.4%Lowest 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% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Kittery Public Schools | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9Lowest |
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.