Compare towns
Kennebunk vs South Eliot vs Rye
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 (+6.8%).
South Eliot has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | South Eliot | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,820Highest |
4,203Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.6±3.3Lowest 40% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Rye 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% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest 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%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot and Rye 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% |
49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 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 | $107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye 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. |
$475,600±$52kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Rye 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. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Rye 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% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 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 |
| School district | RSU 21 | — | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Kennebunk High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.