Compare towns
Kennebunk vs Ogunquit vs Merrimac 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 kids (17.7% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Merrimac has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Ogunquit | Merrimac | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,820Highest |
1,379Lowest |
6,748 |
7,146 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8Lowest 27% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and Merrimac 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Lowest 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+ | 51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38k 66% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,352±$325Lowest 4% 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,399Highest 137% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Merrimac 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 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 |
26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 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 | — | #188 of 282 in MA | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | — | Pentucket | 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 History | 12 photos → | 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.