Compare towns
Eliot vs Sunapee 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%).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k 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 | Sunapee | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146 |
3,416Lowest |
11,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Lowest 31% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
| Sunapee 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% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee 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% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sunapee 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. |
$101,393±$20kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Kennebunk 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. |
$1,713±$451 21% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Sunapee 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. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,999Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Kennebunk 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Sunapee School District | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.