Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Hampton Beach vs Hampstead 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 people working from home (32.5%).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Kennebunk | Hampton Beach | Hampstead | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,820Highest |
2,605Lowest |
9,102 |
7,146 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Lowest 16% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,999 60% above U.S. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Hampton Beach 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 | — | #49 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | — | Hampstead School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — | — |
| 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.