Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Naples vs Durham 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%).
Naples has the most affordable homes ($340k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Naples | Durham | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,820 |
3,985Lowest |
15,080Highest |
7,146 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
49.8±6.8 28% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 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+ | 30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$78,188±$13kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
| Durham 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±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$340,100±$48kLowest about the U.S. average |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
| Durham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,941±$625 37% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Naples 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. |
$2,784Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.9%±40.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Naples 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% |
9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±11.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Naples 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 | #118 of 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | Lake Region High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
11.7 |
12.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.