Compare towns
Lyme vs South Eliot vs Kennebunk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
South Eliot has the most affordable homes ($476k median).
Kennebunk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
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 | Lyme | South Eliot | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
4,203 |
11,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lyme and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Lyme 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 |
| School district | Lyme School District | — | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Kennebunk High School |
| 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.