Compare towns
Kennebunk 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 oldest population (median age 54.6).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,820 |
32,459Highest |
7,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above 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%±3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$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 | $4,999 60% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9Lowest 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 | 7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Needham 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 | RSU 21 | Needham | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
11.9Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.