Compare towns
South Berwick vs Eliot vs Kennebunkport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Kennebunkport has the most people working from home (31.6%).
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 | South Berwick | Eliot | Kennebunkport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670Highest |
7,146 |
3,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
50.8±5.9 13% above ME |
59.1±5Highest 32% above ME |
| Kennebunkport and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
8%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.8%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
36.9%±8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Kennebunkport and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.6% ME: 36.2% |
52.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| South Berwick and Kennebunkport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,572±$13kLowest 33% above ME |
$101,522±$10k 36% above ME |
$102,747±$30kHighest 37% above ME |
| Kennebunkport and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,300±$26kLowest 44% above ME |
$498,900±$62k 68% above ME |
$740,500±$109kHighest 150% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83 52% above ME |
$1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
$1,429±$296Lowest 25% above ME |
| Eliot and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,956Highest 63% above ME |
$4,549 50% above ME |
$3,914Lowest 29% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
55.1%±20.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
25.8%±20.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Eliot and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.8% ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
23 minLowest 9% below ME |
34 minHighest 38% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
31.6%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunkport and South Berwick 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #19 of 133 in ME | #42 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.