Compare towns
Hampton 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
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
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 | Hampton | Kennebunk | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
11,820 |
4,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Lowest 40% above U.S. |
55.5±8 43% above U.S. |
| Hampton and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampton and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | RSU 21 | — |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Kennebunk High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
11.6Highest |
— |
| 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.