Compare towns

Kennebunk vs Ogunquit vs Needham vs 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

Kennebunk has the most affordable homes ($453k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 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.

MeasureKennebunkOgunquitNeedhamEliot
People
Population
6,221
1,379Lowest
32,459Highest
7,146
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.3±7.2
40% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
43.1±1.6Lowest
11% above U.S.
50.8±5.9
31% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.1%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
30.9%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Needham and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,169±$21kLowest
18% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$101,522±$10k
26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$452,800±$17kLowest
36% above U.S.
$875,700±$79k
163% above U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$498,900±$62k
50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,466±$261Lowest
4% above U.S.
—
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$1,948±$471
38% above U.S.
Needham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,771
53% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,549
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.3%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Needham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
14% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
Work from home
36.6%±10.2
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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 #9 of 133 in ME — #19 of 282 in MA #19 of 133 in ME
School district — — Needham RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town — — Needham High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.9
—
On TownTapestry
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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.