Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Rye 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Eliot has the youngest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Kennebunk | Rye | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,221 |
5,611Lowest |
7,146Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.3±7.2 40% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Rye 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% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye 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% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kennebunk and Rye 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. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
| Rye and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,800±$17kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,466±$261Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Rye 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. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Rye 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Rye School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.