Compare towns
Portsmouth 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
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
South Eliot has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
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 | Portsmouth | South Eliot | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
4,203Lowest |
11,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Lowest 10% 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 | 14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Lowest 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+ | 64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Portsmouth and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
| South Eliot and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018Highest 157% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Portsmouth 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | — | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | — | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | — | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| 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.