Compare towns
Lyme vs South Eliot vs Kennebunk vs Hanover
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 kids (19.5% under 18).
South Eliot has the most affordable homes ($476k median).
Kennebunk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Lyme | South Eliot | Kennebunk | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
4,203 |
11,820Highest |
11,685 |
| 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% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below 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%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest 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%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,155±$292 53% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Hanover and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and South Eliot 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest 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. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
| 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% |
26.4%±5 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 | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | — | RSU 21 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Kennebunk High School | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.