Compare towns
South Berwick vs Kennebunk vs Eliot
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).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
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 | Kennebunk | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670 |
11,820Highest |
7,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+8.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
54.6±3.3Highest 22% above ME |
50.8±5.9 13% above ME |
| Kennebunk 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% |
17.7%±3 ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.8%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Kennebunk 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% |
51.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| South Berwick and Kennebunk 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 |
$107,804±$8kHighest 44% above ME |
$101,522±$10k 36% above ME |
| Kennebunk 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 |
$487,700±$21k 64% above ME |
$498,900±$62kHighest 68% above ME |
| Eliot and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83 52% above ME |
$1,425±$290Lowest 25% above ME |
$1,948±$471Highest 71% 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 | $4,956 63% above ME |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
$4,549Lowest 50% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.1%±20.1Highest 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% |
7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 9% above ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
23 minLowest 9% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #58 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 21 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
11.6Lowest |
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| 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.